Outgoing Minister Joins International Oil Spill Drill in Cyprus

Outgoing Minister of Environmental Protection Idit Silman traveled to Cyprus for a three-night international maritime pollution drill, despite having recently lost her Knesset seat. Silman, who is serving as minister until the next government is formed, joined the exercise alongside two aides. The drill, held in Cyprus, involved professional teams from Israel, Greece, and Cyprus practicing a joint response to a large-scale oil spill in the open sea. Participants from Italy, France, Egypt, the United States, and the United Kingdom also took part.

While Silman's role in the exercise was not specifically defined, especially given her imminent departure from office, she documented the event on her Instagram. The drill's objective was to enhance regional preparedness and coordination for environmental emergencies in the Mediterranean.

However, the exercise highlights Israel's own lack of preparedness for oil pollution. Despite expanding maritime risks, the outgoing government did not allocate funding for a dedicated national program to prevent oil pollution at sea. A national plan approved in 2008 has yet to be legislated or funded, and a proposed bill from 2021 has not reached the Knesset. Currently, pollution response is funded by a sea pollution prevention fund with insufficient revenue to cover ongoing expenses and necessary upgrades.

Significant funding is needed for emergency stations, vessels, equipment, and early warning systems. The Ministry of Environmental Protection itself acknowledged in October 2023 that Israel is not prepared for a national oil spill response. The risks are increasing, with millions of tons of oil handled annually at Israeli terminals, posing threats to the marine environment, ecosystem, and desalination plants, which are crucial for Israel's drinking water supply. Furthermore, the Prime Minister's office reportedly compelled the Ministry of Environmental Protection to approve the expansion of oil transport by Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC) in the Gulf of Eilat, despite the lack of funding for pollution prevention.