15 - 21 June 2000

Maltese Greenpeace activist arrested in Israel after protest

by a staff reporter

Caroline Muscat, a Maltese Greenpeace activist, was yesterday arrested in Israel after the pumping out of tons of toxic waste into the Kishon River was blocked by activists of the environmental group.

The pollution in the river is linked to various forms of cancer diagnosed in at least 20 marine commando soldiers who had been diving in the Kishon as part of their routine training. The demand is that authorities take action to immediately stop the dumping of carcinogenic chemicals and other hazardous pollutants.

Israeli Greenpeace activists were joined by an international team of activists to block the toxic discharges into the Kishon river by Haifa Chemicali, Gadiv and Carmel Ulipinim pipes. Slogans posted around the pollution read "Stop the Pipe".

Police were soon on the site arresting Greenpeace activists and taking them away. Caroline Muscat, was one of the 10 people arrested during the Greenpeace non-violent action.

Liad Ortar, Greenpeace Mediterranean campaigner in Israel said: "We are here to do the job that the authorities have refused to take on and stop the pollution. The unfolding tragedy of the Kishon is a symptom of the plague of toxic pollution entering our environment.

It is inflicted by the lack of political will to seriously address this problem. The authorities stopped all activities in the Kishon which proves that they know the dangers the public is exposed to and yet they never blocked the toxic effluents!"

In spite of the warnings that Greenpeace delivered to the authorities since 1995, action was never taken to address the hazards imposed by the Kishon river on public health and the environment. The Greenpeace action yesterday won the support of the marine commandos whose tragedy has penetrated the soul of the entire nation as victims of the Kishon pollution.

Yuval Tamir, who served in the navy for 20 years and retired as Lieutenant General, voiced his support: "The pollution has caused more than enough damage already. Greenpeace is setting the example by taking action to stop the toxic pollution. I am concerned about other, maybe younger people, who might be affected by the Kishon." Yuval was required to dive into the Kishon harbour regularly throughout his service. He was diagnosed as suffering from two cancers, skin and colon cancer in one year.

Although the authorities are denying any direct connection, research by Prof. Eli Richter from the University of Jerusalem concludes that the Kishon pollution is the direct cause of the cancers discovered among at least 20 commandos who were required to dive in the polluted waters as part of their training.

Greenpeace expressed concern on the fact that the extent of damage the Kishon river has caused to public health and the environment is probably much greater than envisaged. The cancer discovered in the marine commandos happens to be the one investigated but a vast number of people spend time in the Kishon, such as fishermen, divers and other youths spending time by the river regularly.

Samples taken by Greenpeace directly from the effluent pipes of the six main industries in the Kishon reveal high levels of toxic heavy metals and other hazardous substances.

The industries along the Kishon are US-owned Haifa Chemicals, Carmel Ulipinim, Gadot Biochemicals, Gadiv, the refineries and the municipal sewage treatment plant. Greenpeace lashed out at these industries for seeking profit at the cost of public health and the environment.

Greenpeace is condemning the course of action being taken by the Ministry of Environment to construct a 4.5 kilometre by-pass pipe to direct treated toxic effluents to the sea instead. It described this as nothing more than an attempt to evade any real action by deceiving the public with apparent good intentions.

It said the only real solution is a commitment by all the relevant authorities to terminate the toxic pollution.