Environmental Report Reveals Severe Sewage Pollution in Benjamin Region Affecting Major Israeli Waterways
A recent environmental report by the Benjamin Regional Council's Land Department documented 19 pollution incidents in July alone, highlighting serious sewage and waste contamination flowing from the Benjamin hills into key water bodies including the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee. The report details repeated illegal dumping of sewage by tanker trucks and waste disposal in open areas across the region, from Highway 443 near Modiin, through the areas of Eli and Ma'ale Levona, to the Perat Stream near Jerusalem.
The data, collected through council land patrols, revealed multiple cases of sewage tankers caught in the act, including one near the village of Beit Ur al-Fauqa and others near Burqa and Ma'ale Levona. Despite some enforcement successes, in eight of the 19 cases the polluters fled before authorities arrived. The Perat Stream, a popular nature site close to Jerusalem, continues to suffer from ongoing pollution, leading to occasional closures to visitors.
Officials warn that the pollution is not confined to the West Bank but threatens water sources used by millions of Israelis, as the Benjamin hills lie on a national watershed. Israel Gantz, head of the Benjamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, emphasized the national environmental threat, stating that "there is no green line for groundwater and no checkpoint can stop a stream." He called on the Israeli government to take responsibility for sewage management and pollution prevention.
Deputy head of the Benjamin Council and chairman of the Shomron Environmental Quality Association, Amichai Rahamim, condemned the direct discharge of untreated sewage into streams by Palestinian residents in the area. He urged the Israeli Civil Administration to act decisively to eliminate the problem and manage sewage treatment comprehensively, warning that "the Arabs will not do it for us." The council insists on restoring environmental standards and protecting the region's water resources from further contamination.
