Anger in environmental organizations over the request submitted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection to the court, which received it today (Monday), to impose a restraining order on the details of the investigation of the ecological disaster on the shores of the Israeli Mediterranean. The order prohibits the publication of any details of the investigation and, according to the ministry, the request to issue a restraining order is “due to complex international aspects of the investigation conducted by the Marine Environmental Protection Unit and the Green Police.”
Meanwhile, Maya Yaakovs, CEO of Zalul, responded: “When the factors that operate at sea and create a risk of pollution are oil companies and shipping companies that are rich and influential on the regulator, Zalul requires a transparent investigation and the order is lifted immediately.”
The organization “Adam, Teva VeDin” stated: “Hiding all issues related to the investigation of the tar disaster is a fatal blow to public trust in the government and regulators that are supposed to ensure the safety of the public and the environment.” “In the case of the EPA, too, there was complete confidentiality on every detail related to the issue, and following our petition to the High Court after the leak in Evron in 2014, it was determined that despite the security claim, there will be no confidentiality on environmental issues.”
It was further stated that: “The obvious conclusion is that security claims should also lead to a minimal concealment of information and be balanced against the public’s right to know. ‘Adam Teva VeDin’ examines the legal possibilities to appeal the order and protect the public’s right to know. Dr. Revital Goldschmid, m “Haifa Environmental Research Center” blames: “The Ministry of Environmental Protection has not taken measures to monitor and prevent the disaster The ecological thus allowed it to occur and is now conducted in the absence of transparency towards the citizens of the country. “
In response, the Ministry of Environmental Protection clarified that it did not have any prior warning or early identification from any international or Israeli entity before the tar landed on the shores of Israel on February 17, and that any other claim is incorrect.
Chairman of the Meretz faction in the Knesset, MK Tamar Zandberg, Wrote a letter to the Minister of Environmental Protection, Gila Gamliel, Demanding the removal of the order and at the same time turned to the State Comptroller, Matanyahu Engelman, in which she calls on him to conduct a thorough investigation of the events: “Behind the harsh images of pollution on the beaches are many failures that require in-depth examination, it was man-made and preventable. Your office, the next ecological disaster is only a matter of time. “
Delay in budgeting rehabilitation activities for local authorities disrupts the volunteers’ operation
Meanwhile, in the volunteer groups for cleaning beaches of the “Association” in the Haifa area, thousands of volunteers were informed that the planned cleaning operations are canceled due to lack of budget for protective equipment for them, despite Minister Gamliel’s attempt to pass a resolution on the matter.
Sharon-Carmel Cities Association Chairman and Hof Hacarmel Regional Council Chairman Asif Isaac explained: “The coastal authorities in the union area immediately stop cleaning tar pollution on beaches due to the Treasury’s refusal to approve the plan and budget submitted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. We are not willing to budget for the cleanliness of the beaches on the residents and the authorities. The government is quarreling and thus harming animal life, the environment and causing the postponement of the opening of the bathing and tourism season in our area. “Later today, the heads of the local authorities convened for an emergency meeting on the issue.