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3/3/2021–|Last updated: 4/3/202112:34 a. M. (Mecca)
Israel accused Iran of carrying out an “environmental attack” against it, due to the oil spill accident that occurred last month in the eastern Mediterranean.
Israeli Environment Minister Gila Gamaliel told a press conference on Wednesday that the ship that caused the leak is owned by Libyans and sailed from Iran through the Gulf without radio wave communication, then passed through the Suez Canal.
She added that the oil tanker called “Emerald” approached what she described as Israel’s exclusive economic zone and “deliberately polluted the water,” as tons of tar leaked between the first and second of February.
According to the Israeli minister, the ship continued its journey from there to Syria with a cargo from Iran.
The ministry presented what it said was strong “circumstantial evidence” that this ship was responsible for the leak, although it had “no forensic evidence.” There was no immediate comment from Iran.
And after strong winds and strong waves last week, the tar plate expanded to contaminate the 160 km beaches from Ras Naqoura in southern Lebanon to Ashkelon in the northern Gaza Strip.
This accusation may increase the tension between Israel and Iran. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Tehran of being responsible for an explosion on an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman last week, which Tehran denied.
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