Israel's Energy Minister Blames Algae Bloom for Water Crisis

Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen addressed Israel's water crisis, attributing it to an unusual natural phenomenon rather than a cyberattack. He stated that five of the six desalination plants along the Mediterranean coast were shut down due to a massive algae bloom originating from the Nile River. This type of event has not been seen in Israel for approximately thirty years.

Despite the shutdown of most desalination facilities, Cohen assured that water supply to homes continued by increasing pumping from wells and the Sea of Galilee. Some desalination plants have since resumed operations, and water supply to agriculture was restored yesterday. While acknowledging potential localized disruptions, Cohen asserted that the system was prepared for the extreme scenario.

Cohen definitively ruled out a cyberattack as the cause, pointing to satellite imagery showing a concentration of algae originating from the Nile. He also mentioned aerial spraying operations conducted with an international company to disperse the algae and facilitate the return of the desalination plants to full capacity. Residents could observe these efforts in the skies over Israel.