The investigation into the oil spill that stained Israel's shores last week has been placed under a gag order, the Environmental Protection Ministry announced Saturday. The spill is Israel's worst natural disaster in decades.
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The order, issued by Haifa Magistrates' Court Judge Zaid Falah, is valid for seven days and is comprehensive. As such, it bars any mention of the particulars of the investigation and any details that might identify the suspects.
The court's ruling drew immediate criticism from politicians and environmental organizations alike.
"Hiding all matters that are connected to the investigation of the tar disaster is a fatal blow to the public's trust in the government and its regulators, whose job it is to ensure the safety of the public and the environment," the Israel Union for Environmental Defense said in a statement.
The Environmental Protection Ministry noted that, contrary to reports suggesting otherwise, it received no warning of the disaster in advance, neither by international nor Israeli sources.
The incident was "an environmental crime," which allegedly took place more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) off the coast, outside of Israel territorial waters, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, as soon as it discovered the spill, it appealed to European allies for assistanace in detecting the source using satellite footage, which revealed 10 possible suspects.
"As soon as we identify and locate the ship [responsible for the disaster,] we will contact the authorities of the relevant country to take action and complete all [necessary legal] proceedings against the suspected ship," the ministry said.
Meanwhile, volunteers continued the beach cleanup operation. Unfortunately, some beaches had to be cleaned a second time as more tar had washed up throughout the night.
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