Economic foolishness! That's how environmental journalist Sue Surkes described "Israel's" government for failing to implement a national food-saving policy during the year in which food insecurity cases reached 150,000 globally.

In a report published by The Times of "Israel" website, Surkes details how nearly 2.5 million tons of food were wasted in 2020, totaling $6 billion or an average of $1,140 per family. The study was published last Monday in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and an Israeli Leket organization dedicated to "rescuing surplus food for Israelis." 

According to Surkes, this food waste constitutes 35% of food produced in "Israel", half of which was edible and could have been resold. 

The environmental cost of the waste was an additional $1 billion according to the study, taking into account the waste of land and water resources and waste collection and treatment, as well as air pollution and emission of an estimated 5 million tons of greenhouse gases, which represents 6% of all greenhouse gas emissions in "Israel". 

According to the organization, at least one in five Israeli households suffered from food insecurity last year, comparable to half a million people.