Media assertions that \'Israel\' accused Iran of environmental terrorism are belied by the fact that just one Israeli official leveled the accusation: junior Minister
03-04-2021
Pieces of tar from an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea wash up on a beach in Israel. Monday, March 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli leaders say Iran is responsible for a devastating oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea last month that polluted Israel’s beaches and sent several people to the hospital.
Gila Gamliel, Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister, said the oil spill was an act of “environmental terrorism” orchestrated by Iran. She said a Libyan “pirate ship” that sailed from Iran spilled tons of crude oil into the sea, resulting in what has been described as Israel’s worst ecological disaster in years.
But the claim has been disputed by her country s security establishment.
Israeli media had earlier named a Minerva Marine aframax as a suspect in the case, but later cleared the vessel.
Terrorism or accident?
Gamliel called the leak, which has been described as the country s worst ecological disaster in decades, an act of environmental terrorism .
She wrote on Twitter: Iran is initiating terrorism not only with nuclear weapons and efforts to entrench itself on our borders. Iran is initiating terrorism by harming the environment.
Gamliel did not name the Libyan company that owns the ship or provide any further details on Iran s alleged role. She gave a name for the vessel that is used by a number of tankers in the world s fleet.
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