Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel s environment reporter.
A sign that reads, Danger, polluted sea is placed on Haifa beach, northern Israel, next to bags full of tar collected by volunteers following an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea, February 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
The oil spill that has caused the contamination of almost the entire stretch of Israel’s Mediterranean coast with tar is “without doubt a case of malice,” Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel told a press briefing Monday.
“Either the ship dumped oil into the sea on purpose, or the oil leaked out because of a fault,” she said. Either way, the ship’s owner “lacked compassion toward [marine] wildlife and nature and did not inform the authorities.”
Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel s environment reporter.
Pieces of tar that washed up onto the beach at the Gador Nature Reserve in northern Israel on March 1, 2021. (Yossi Aharoni)
Eleven days after tar began to wash up on Israel’s Mediterranean shore, apparently as a result of a marine oil spill, the Environmental Protection Ministry on Monday called on companies specializing in mapping and cleaning up of the marine environment to help local authorities find ways of getting the tar off hard, rocky surfaces, under the supervision of marine ecology inspectors.
The call came as reports came in of more tar washing up onto beaches at Tel Dor, north Netanya, Emek Hefer, Gador, Michmoret, Nachsholim and Beit Yannai in the north and Nitzanim in the south.
Mar 01, 2021 07:00 AM EST
Following a professional and thorough investigation, the Environment Ministry cleared the Minerva Helen of responsibility for the country s worst oil spill.
(Photo : (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images))
HADERA, ISRAEL - FEBRUARY 22: An aerial view over Israel s coast line after an oil spill on February 22, 2021 in Hadera, Israel. Tar started washing up on the country s beaches last week, leading its interior minister to advise people to stay away from beaches. Authorities suspect the spill was caused by a leak from an offshore ship.
Minerva Helen Cleared
Israel cleared the Greek tanker Minerva Helen of any responsibility in the devastating spill off its Mediterranean coast after an investigation at the port of Piraeus.
Live Science.
The spill affected over 100 miles, or roughly 90 percent, of Israel’s Mediterranean coastline. Authorities are yet to identify the culprit responsible for what they said was one of the worst ecological disasters Israel has seen. The government closed all beaches along the coast to the public on Feb. 22 because of health concerns.
Thousands of volunteers showed up at the affected beaches to remove the tar globs after environmental groups asked the public for help. Israeli soldiers were also sent to help with the cleanup efforts. But due to the massive scope of the spill, Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) fears cleanup could take months, if not years.
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