The cabinet rejected yesterday (Monday) a bill for the second time that would provide for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Dead Sea region. “The Israeli government continues to stand by the side of the factories and to thwart any move that could save the Dead Sea and return it to its original owners – the public,” said Adam Teva V’Din executive director, Amit Bracha, in a statement released by his office.

The bill, drafted by Adam Teva V’Din (Israel Union for Environmental Defense) and put forward by MK Dov Khenin (Hadash), advocated a comprehensive Dead Sea rehabilitation plan, to help curb sinking water levels in the northern basin, preserve area resources and revamp the management structure overseeing mineral extraction.

MK Khenin during a demonstration in Jerusalem for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Dead Sea region (Photo: Friends of the Earth – Middle East)

The rejection comes a week after the cabinet’s approval of an agreement made between Israel Chemicals branch Dead Sea Works and the Finance Ministry, which stipulated that a full salt harvest occur with 80 percent financing on the part of the company. This agreement also raised royalties owed to the government from 5% to 10%, an amount that environmental advocates criticized as trivial and damaging to public interests.

“There is no doubt that the conduct of the Treasury last week proves that Dead Sea Works must thank Steinitz for continuing to protect them and to go against public interest,” Bracha said.

In a letter to the ministers, Bracha reminded them that last week’s agreement only applies to salt removal from the southern basin and royalty rates the government receives from the company. He stressed that the agreement does not include a complete rehabilitation of the entire Dead Sea and protection of its natural resources.

Meanwhile, the ministers also received last night an online petition signed by over 16,000 people in support of the more comprehensive Dead Sea bill, jointly issued by activist group Avaaz, Adam Teva V’Din and environmental group Friends of the Earth – Middle East. Bracha added: “The government torpedoed today a step that would save the Dead Sea and return it from the hands of captains of industry to the hands of the public.”