Dramatic development in the investigation of the ecological disaster that polluted the shores of Israel • The ship Emerland, which sails under the Libyan flag and left Iran, is responsible for unprecedented pollution • Minister of Environmental Protection Gila Gamliel: "This pollution is responsible and they have to pay the price"
Cleaning operations on the shores of Israel // Photo: Avishag Shear-Yashuv
Is tar pollution off the coast of Israel related to Iran's efforts to circumvent sanctions and sell oil illegally?
New findings unveiled today (Wednesday) by the government point in that direction.
According to the information coming from the Ministry of the Environment, the ship responsible for the pollution of the tar off the coast of Israel is a lobby vessel called "Emerald" that came straight from Iran.
The ship passed through the Suez Canal.
Between February 1 and 2, it polluted Israel's economic waters and then continued into the Syrian region.
According to the information revealed, this is an old ship, 19 years old, and as a result can not be received at the ports of Europe and the United States.
The ship is currently in Iran.
Environment Minister Gila Gamliel Gamliel said: "Israel will demand compensation from the International Fund. Iran is carrying out terrorism - not just by nuclear weapons."
Prior to the briefing, the Minister tweeted at noon that "we have put our hand on the criminal ship. Our long arm will reach everyone who harms our nature, the sea and our beaches."
The heavy pollution reached the shores of the country about two weeks ago - "with the help" of the storm - when it hit all the shores of the country - from Rosh Hanikra in the north to Zikim in the south, and was soon defined as the most serious marine pollution in Israel for decades.
At the moment, according to the Ministry of Health, some of the beaches may be defined as safe to stay after receiving the results of a water quality test, although in the meantime the instruction is to avoid staying at the beaches - including bathing and sports activities.
A week and a half ago, the Ministry of Health banned the marketing of fish and marine animals caught in the Mediterranean until further notice.
In terms of damage: The disaster has already claimed the lives of fish, birds, sand crabs and various marine creatures as only six out of 21 turtles that came to the Sea Turtle Rescue Center of the Nature and Danes managed to survive when it is estimated that hundreds of sea turtles were injured and died in the middle of the sea.
Most of the damage is in the fencing tables in the rocky areas where most of the biological activity is.
It is still unclear how long it will take to rehabilitate the area and to what extent the environmental impact of the pollution is or that it is clear that its consequences - and the need to rehabilitate the areas - are for years.
It should be noted that a total of 35 vessels were considered suspicious of the unusual pollution.
The investigation further ruled out suspicion regarding 12 of them including the Greek tanker Minerva Helen.
As for the type of material spilled into the water - it is estimated that this is a type of crude oil, but the exact components of the material have not been specified at this stage.
With regard to the allegations made against the ministry and Minister Gamliel, that an advance warning may have been received that could have allegedly prevented the consequences of the pollution - as well as a restraining order regarding the investigation (which was reduced after a day) and which was perceived as lack of transparency - the ministry stressed several times In advance of the incident and in any case - even in a situation where such a warning would have been received, then about eighty percent of the tar would still have reached the beaches in any case.
Environmental factors emphasize the current need to emphasize the continued rapid cleaning of beaches and the timely opening of the bathing season.