The Society for the Protection of Nature (SPNI) filed on Sunday an official
opposition to oil drilling by the Shemen Oil and Gas Resources company, which is
slated to begin shortly at the Yam 3 site off the coast of
Ashdod.
Sending their opposition to South District Committee for Planning
and Building, group members said that “the state demonstrates that it is not
prepared for sea pollution, and there is no clear urgency for the
drilling.”
Drilling approvals are occurring “conspicuously without a code
of safety,” and there is no reason to rush to provide permits before such
regulations are established, according to SPNI. The plans must be put on hold
until satisfactory solutions can be found for the oil and gas drilling, to
properly care for Israel’s citizens, beaches and marine life, the organization
said.
SPNI will hold its annual Jerusalem Conference of Environmental and
Nature on Monday, where the main topic of discussion will be oil and gas
drilling, as well as other pressures facing the sea.
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