“The Ministry of Health warns winter bathers from using the beaches due to pollution from contaminated runoff going into the sea from the torrential rains.”
The ministry didn’t mention any specific beach rather asks the public to avoid beach bathing at this time, period. These past few days the coastal waters became polluted from runoff and dead animals were seen on the beaches.
Rain caused flooding in different parts of Israel. In Haifa runoff swept fallen branches and mud to the sea from the mountains and in “Students Beach” runoff pushed cars into the sea. In Ashkelon and other cities there were also cars washed into the sea along with other debris. Presently there are very few Israeli beaches that stay opened for the whole bathing season: The Sironit Beach in Netanya, the Yonah Beach in Rishon LeZion and a few more beaches in Ashdod.
An environmental NGO called Zalul, which means “clear” in Hebrew, is out to protect Israel’s seas and rivers through conservation, activism, research, awareness-raising, and education (taken from their website). About this dire situation they stated: “Relegating continuously repeated winter runoff pollution to fate is unacceptable. The many instances of pollution from sewage and runoff last year caused the closing of beaches for 77 days which is double the number of days beaches were closed in 2016. In this case runoff was the culprit. Besides exhaust deposits washed of the roads into the sea with the runoff, the waters reaching the sea are full of dangerous germs that cause sickness. Zalul demands the Tel Aviv municipality make every effort to prevent the repeat of this pollution every time there’s a strong rain.”
