Israel approves new bill against polluting companies

Jerusalem, July 9 (IANS) Regular citizens and NGOs will have the right to sue polluting companies in civil courts, according to a new bill proposal approved by the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation.

The Israeli government hopes the new bill, approved on Sunday, will put more pressure and deterrence toward big companies that do not care about the state supervision against pollution, Xinhua news agency reported.

Member of Knesset (parliament) Dov Khenin, also the chairman of the environmental lobby, said that treatment of polluting manufactories by the Ministry of Environmental Protection is essential, but not enough.

Israel suffered two significant pollution disasters in nature reserves during recent years, where Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Co and Israel Chemical Ltd were held accountable.

"For the past 20 years, Israel Chemicals Corporation has ignored the warnings of an impending catastrophe," Khenin said.

He added that the economic interest was "stronger and prevailed" any other consideration. "The new bill will give us more power to fight back".

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