Naval, planning experts tell confab that country needs laws, coordinating body, to ensure that sea, on which Israel depends for drinking water, fuel and trade, is properly managed
Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel s environment reporter.
A satellite image of Israel and Gaza s southern Mediterranean coast taken by the EU s Sentinel 1 on February 12, 2021. (screen capture)
The head of the company that helped Israel pinpoint a vessel it says is responsible for spilling oil that wound up polluting the country’s beaches is calling on Jerusalem to significantly bolster its monitoring capabilities, or risk being stricken again.
“Until Israel, like every other country that respects its oceans, has the ability to monitor daily for oil spills and to find the perpetrators, this can happen again and again. It’s a decision away,” said Ami Daniel, co-founder and CEO of Tel Aviv-based marine intelligence firm Windward.
After oil spill, Health Ministry says fish from Mediterranean now okay for sales timesofisrael.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timesofisrael.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Tar found at the Bat Yam beach, following an offshore oil spill which polluted most of the Israeli coastline, March 2, 2021. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
Israel on Sunday said 17 beaches were safe for the public to visit following a devastating oil spill in the Mediterranean last month that polluted most of its shoreline.
In a joint statement, the environmental protection, health and interior ministries said cleanup at some beaches had been completed and samples taken from the water indicated they were safe for water sports. The authorities warned, however, that copious amounts of tar could yet wash up on beaches that had been cleared.
Israel suspects Iran connection to Mediterranean oil spill thetelegraph.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thetelegraph.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.