The oil slick that hit the coastline of Israel has spread north to the beaches of southern Lebanon. However, there is no information on the causes of the spill. Yesterday, a court in Haifa ruled unexpectedly for a seven-day ban on disclosure. The court ruled after some Israeli news outlets reported the name of a ship suspected of dumping the oil.
Environmental protection minister Gila Gamliel said that the ministry is investigating the possibility that the pollution – believed to be about 1,000 tonnes of bunker fuel – was carried out purposely for malicious reasons. “They either spilled the oil from the ship into the water or a malfunction occurred and they didn’t report it. Finding those responsible for the disaster is a complicated process, but we will do everything in our power to find those culpable”, – said Gamliel. The ministry on Sunday urged Israelis to stay away from beaches, citing the serious health risks posed by oil products.
