Concerning environmental report: something stinks in Binyamin - and it will affect all our streams

A report by the Binyamin Council documented 19 pollution incidents in July, including sewage trucks dumping waste into streams and trash in open areas. The damage spans from Route 443 to the Prat Stream. The council warns that the pollution, flowing along the watershed, could harm areas where millions of Israelis live.

A report by the Land Department of the Binyamin Council, published today (Tuesday), documented 19 environmental incidents in July alone. The incidents include sewage trucks dumping their contents in the field, sewage flowing into stream channels, and waste repeatedly discarded in open areas. The damage extends beyond the region: from Route 443 and the Modi'in area, through the Eli and Ma'ale Levona region, to the Prat Stream on the outskirts of Jerusalem. In western Binyamin, a truck was caught dumping dirt near Beit Ur al-Fauqa, and in Salman Stream, sewage trucks were documented dumping sewage. In the Burqa area, several reports were received during the month. On July 20, a sewage truck was caught dumping sewage near the Ma'ale Levona junction. In eight of the 19 incidents, the suspects or vehicles fled before forces arrived. The Prat Stream, a popular nature site, was also documented with waste dumping. The council warns that the Binyamin hills sit on the watershed, and pollution could affect areas where millions of Israelis live. Council head Israel Gantz called for treating the pollution as a national environmental threat.