The new oil slick Located in the eastern Mediterranean near Israel, it is making its way east to the shores of Egypt, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced today (Saturday). The spot was located over the weekend in satellite photos, and is located about 150 km from the shores of the country. According to an initial inspection conducted by the ministry, “the spot is not expected to reach the shores of Israel at least until the visible forecast range, March 1.”
In addition, the Nature and Parks Authority announced yesterday that New tar blocks were found on the shores of the Shikmona Marine Reserve in the south of Haifa. They probably originated in the existing pollution, some of which is still being swept ashore and not on suspicion of new sea pollution in our area.
In response to Maariv’s request regarding the new oil slick, the Ministry of Environmental Protection stated in a response that “Modeling work carried out by the Ministry of Environmental Protection on the basis of satellite mapping, combined with a flight of remotely manned aircraft by the Air Force Of about 130-150 kilometers west of Israel – away from the territorial waters of Israel and outside the economic waters. “
The ministry added that “the stain is moving south, and a small part to the east, and we continue to follow. It was also reported in the assessment of the situation that at this time there is no certainty that it is an oil or oil stain, and the issue will be investigated in depth.”
The tar event in Rosh Hanikra (Photo: Gidi Bettelheim)He further clarified that “according to the initial inspection completed today (Saturday), which includes models conducted by the ministry together with the Institute for Marine and Lake Research, the stain is not expected to reach the shores of Israel at least until the visible forecast, March 1. No warning was received. “From an international source about the presence of the stain and the ministry reported to the Mediterranean Coordination Center for the treatment of marine oil pollution in Malta about the findings so far.”
During Saturday, Defense Ministry sources learned that Defense Minister Bnei Gantz had already received a request from the Ministry of Environmental Protection to assist in locating and demarcating the new oil spill, which was located with the help of researchers at the academy exposed to the satellite images. Ganz authorized the IDF to use tiny unmanned aircraft of the Navy in order to locate the new spot documented using satellite images. The planes set out on Saturday afternoon for the first reconnaissance flight.
The Fair Nature Authority has called on volunteers to sign up through it or through the “Ecoation” association to help clean up the new pollution found on the beach. Meanwhile, in a marine scan by inspectors of the Marine Unit at Sea in the Achziv area, lumps of tar of his location were found at the bottom of the sea.
According to an update by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Shikmona Beach in Haifa is the only one in Israel defined as red, with a moderate-to-heavy level of pollution, due to the same landings of tar blocks and the ministry clarifies: “On a local scale in the coming days on the shores of Israel, in accordance with the directions of the currents and changes in sea level.”
Minister of Environmental Protection Gila Gamliel with Director General David Yahalomi at Palmachim Beach (Photo: Ministry of Environmental Protection)The cleaning of the beaches from the tar blocks continued over the weekend with a special concentration of efforts on the southern shores of Haifa as well as on the shores of Hof Hacarmel. As a result of the actions of local authorities, the ministry and the many volunteers, there are beaches where the state of pollution is very mild. The IDF also assists in the rehabilitation efforts and has rewarded thousands of soldiers with cleaning the beaches and assisting with the removal of the tar.