ByROSSELLA TERCATIN
The government allocated some NIS 45 million for the treatment of the coastal tar spill on Tuesday, as a gag order on publishing details about the investigation into the environmental catastrophe was partially lifted.
“This is a huge ecological disaster, with a thousand tons of oil and tar piling up on our shores,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. “We must act quickly before it seeps into the ground, especially in the rocky areas where it will damage and stay with us for many years.”

Funds are going to be provided both to the Nature and Parks Authority and to the local authorities to assist them with the cleaning process of the beaches, up to NIS 250,000 per kilometer of coastline. The budget will also support the transportation costs for the removal of the tar, as well as research and monitoring activities to evaluate the extension of the damage and the necessary rehabilitation.

In addition, Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel committed to submit a memorandum of law on readiness and response to the events of marine pollution in oil within 30 days.

An additional NIS 25 million fund to respond to similar events in the future is to be discussed between the Environmental Protection Ministry and the Finance Ministry.

The tar spill has affected some 160 of Israel’s Mediterranean coastline, killing an unknown number of sea creatures, including turtles, fish and birds, and leaving black patches hundreds of meters deep into the shore.

The tar started to reach Israel last Wednesday. Experts believe that the stormy weather that the country experienced last week might have heightened the effect of the spill, the cause of which has been investigated by the authorities.

On Monday, a Haifa court issued a gag order on the details emerging from the investigation, following a request by the Environmental Protection Ministry citing important international considerations. After widespread protests and numerous requests by several news outlets and the country’s journalism association, the court partially reversed the decision. According to the new ruling, information uncovered thanks to journalistic endeavors will be allowed to be made public from Wednesday afternoon.

“We will do everything we can to repair the ecological damage, return to enjoy Israel’s beautiful beaches and open the upcoming bathing season on time,” Gamliel commented after the government allocated the funding. “We are also carrying a complex international investigation to catch and severely punish the culprits.”

Beach season is scheduled to open on March 20.