Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs Ofir Akunis told the cabinet during Sunday’s 22 Kislev weekly cabinet meeting the threat of an environmental catastrophe in the Gulf of Eilat region due to the fractured crude oil pipeline in the Aravah region has been lifted.

Last week, after millions of crude oils spilled into the Aravah area there was a measure of panic ahead of a rainy stormy weekend. Environmental experts feared the flash floods in the Aravah area might sweep the crude oil down to the Eilat Region, which would have resulted in an environmental disaster.

Akunis announced that the situation is under control and while cleanup measures will be ongoing for some time, the incident no longer threatens the Eilat region.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)