Yom Kippur 5787: Very Good Air Quality Recorded Across Israel
Israel's air quality reached exceptionally good levels during Yom Kippur, with nitrogen oxide pollution dropping dramatically nationwide.
Jerusalem, 22 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — JERUSALEM — Environmental monitoring stations across Israel recorded exceptionally good air quality during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, driven by a sharp nationwide halt in vehicular traffic, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced. Yom Kipur is the one day of the year in Israel where the vast majority of the countries businesses including places of entertainment remain closed.
Data from the National Air Monitoring Network showed nitrogen oxide levels—a primary indicator of motor vehicle pollution—plummeted across major urban hubs, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa. Peak concentrations dropped to between 3.1 and 61.1 parts per billion, far below the national safety threshold of 500 ppb.
Inhalable particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10) also remained low due to favorable meteorological conditions. Environmental officials stated the annual drop highlights transportation as the dominant source of urban air pollution.