Israelis rally to clean tar spill and avert future crises
Israel’s largest environmental disaster brings out thousands of volunteers to clean beaches and brings renewed call for prevention and monitoring.
Photo of volunteers cleaning tar from Ga ’ash Beach by Dafna Ben Nun Photography
Why did 1,200 tons of sticky tar begin washing up on Israel’s Mediterranean beaches on the stormy day of February 17? The answer is not yet clear.
Experts say that no matter what caused Israel’s worst environmental disaster, it should have been contained as much as possible before contaminating 160 kilometers (nearly 100 miles) of Israel’s 190-kilometer seashore. They agree that Israel must formulate better ways of preventing, detecting and clearing oil spills.
Tar on the rocks at Achziv beach, February 25, 2021. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Tar under the water at Achziv beach, February 25, 2021. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Tar on the rocks, Achziv beach, February 25, 2021. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Tar in the kurkar rock, Achziv beach, February 25, 2021. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Tar mixed with trash and bits of driftwood, Achziv beach, February 25, 2021. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Tar on the rocks, Achziv beach, February 25, 2021. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Tar under the water at Achziv beach, February 25, 2021. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
It’s only when you see it with your own eyes that you begin to understand the scope of the oil disaster that has hit most of Israel’s Mediterranean coastline
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Israel slaps gag order on oil spill probe
Court approves ban on releasing key details including name of vessel believed to have leaked oil into sea off Israeli coast, port of origin and destination; state claims such information could cloud investigation into Israel s worst environmental crisis
Ahiya Raved, Ilana Curiel |
Published: 02.22.21 , 14:45
A gag order was issued Monday on the details of the investigation into the massive oil spill that has polluted the majority of Israel’s beaches, at the request of the Environmental Protection Ministry.
The heavy pollution and the subsequent widespread ecological damage that has shut all but two of Israel’s beaches to visitors is believed to have been caused by a massive oil spill from a foreign ship passing close to the coast of Israel last week.
Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel s environment reporter.
Photographs of tar contamination along Israel s northern beaches, taken from a helicopter by Israel Nature and Parks Authority Director, Shaul Goldstein, on February 22, 2021.
Photographs of tar contamination along Israel s northern beaches, taken from a helicopter by Israel Nature and Parks Authority Director, Shaul Goldsteiin, on February 22, 2021.
Photographs of tar contamination along Israel s northern beaches, taken from a helicopter by Israel Nature and Parks Authority Director, Shaul Goldsteiin, on February 22, 2021.
An Israeli soldier wearing a full protective suit holds a piece of tar from an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea during a cleanup operation at Sharon Beach Nature Reserve, near Gaash, February 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)