Israelis rally to Dead Sea's aid
Over 15,000 sign petition urging ministers to approve Dead Sea rehabilitation bill. Environmentalists say sea at 'historical crossroad'
The environmental campaign for the Dead Sea rehabilitation bill is picking up: Over 15,000 people signed a petition, circulated by several environmental groups, urging the cabinet to approve the bill.
The campaign is headed by the Israel Union for Environmental Defense and Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) and the online activist group Avaaz.
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The bill, presented by MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) has so far been delayed by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation, but it will be brought to a cabinet vote on Sunday.
"We urge you not to succumb to the pressures of the Finance Ministry and the industrialists and to vote in favor of the Dead Sea rehabilitation bill. This is the last chance to save this rare, dying resource – please do not miss out on this chance. Vote for the public interest, the environment and future generations," the petition states.
The Dead Sea (Photo: Lowshot)
As part of the campaign, the groups posted the telephone numbers for the Treasury and the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee and urged the public to call the ministers directly. According to the campaign managers, scores of Israelis have already done so.
"Supporting the bill will demonstrate the ministers' true and unwavering commitment to rectifying past mistakes. It will ensure the Dead Sea's survival as a rare treasure," Attorney Amit Bracha of the Union for Environmental Defense (IUED) explained. MK Khenin has already presented the ministers with the petition.
After seven months of deliberations and negotiations, the Treasury and Dead Sea Works (DSW) have reached a compromise on the funding of a major major salt harvest project aimed at rehabilitating the Dead Sea.
The deal states that DWS will fund 90% of the future salt harvest operation in the area, as well as pay higher royalties to the State.
The deal was panned by Israel's environmental groups, which said that it provided only a partial solution to the area's problems.
"Now that the deal with DSW has been approved, the Dead Sea has reached a historical crossroad," MK Khenin said. "Following the provisions the deal allows… it is pivotal that we regulate a series of environmental measures to protect the area."
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