Images of sea turtles and other creatures covered in tar may be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to damage caused by an oil spill off Israel's Mediterranean coast two weeks ago.
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"The amount of tar is just incredible, and almost all of Israel's coastline is covered in tar," Dr. Ruth Yahel, a marine ecologist for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, said. "We haven't seen this extent of pollution in our region. It could take decades to rehabilitate and get rid of this pollution, and that also includes all of sandy and rocky habitats."
Wildlife immediately impacted by the spill include snails, seaweed, sea turtles, clams, and crabs, but as Yahel pointed out, "we'll only be able to begin to see the long-term damage in a few months."
She explained that "one of the concerns is over poisoning that will result in the entry of the pollution into the ecosystem and then the damage will be systemic, meaning the harm could be to fish, dolphins, sharks, and large turtles."
At the same time, creatures suffering from multiple injuries were brought to the Israeli Wildlife Hospital in Ramat Gan and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority hospitals.
According to the experts, it's still too soon to say whether it's safe to bathe in the Mediterranean Sea. However, as we approach spring and summer, and the temperatures rise, beachgoers will be more likely to inhale dangerous toxins from the tar, making such an outing more dangerous to our health.
Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a beach in the southern city of Ashdod.
Netanyahu said Gamliel would present the government with a plan and budget for cleaning up Israel's beaches. "I am very impressed by the work of the Environmental Protection Ministry, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and citizens," he said.
Gamliel said, "To overcome the battle, we need to raise tens of millions of shekels to go toward cleaning the beaches. We have the option of suing the insurance company of the ship responsible for the pollution, and we will do everything we can to locate it."
Thousands of volunteers took part in a cleanup operation of the Israeli shoreline, Saturday, following an oil spill that has been called the country's worst natural disaster in decades.
Israeli media reported that several volunteers were hospitalized after inhaling fumes. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority urged people to stay away from the beach at 16 of the most polluted sites.
Meanwhile, residents of Eilat joined with environmental activists in the southern resort city, Sunday, to protest a planned pipeline between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. At the demonstration, held while Netanyahu was visiting Eilat, protesters said the pipeline could result in an oil spill that forces the southern resort city to contend with the kind of damage Israel is now contending with on its Mediterranean shores.
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