The Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company has announced that a small amount of fuel leaked from its pipeline to Haifa near Mash'en in the south on Monday.
As soon as the leak was discovered, the flow in the pipeline was stopped and the company is working to clean the area where it occurred.
Engineering operations were carried out along the pipeline overnight in order to replace the leaking section. About 100 cubic meters of fuel escaped from the pipe and about 800 tons of contaminated soil from an area of about 3,000 square meters were cleared from the area.
The Green Police of the Environmental Protection Ministry has launched a criminal investigation.
Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg visited the scene and said: "This is a very serious incident, which once again illustrates how dangerous and harmful the transportation of fossil fuel in the heart of the State of Israel can be."
"This incident highlights that mishaps happen, all the time, and it is strictly forbidden to allow malfunctions to occur in close proximity to sensitive areas, on land or at sea, such as near a coral reefs of global importance. We will examine the circumstances of the incident, and act to enforceme proceedings with the company as required," said Zandberg.