Environmental time bomb: Piles of waste threatening to pollute the Sea of Galilee

The Zalul organization warns that piles of waste on the banks of the Jordan River near the Ariq Bridge could be swept away by winter rains into the Sea of Galilee, causing severe pollution. The head of the Emek HaYarden Regional Council promises to act but doubts a long-term solution.

The Zalul organization warns that piles of garbage and plastic waste that have accumulated on the banks of the Jordan River near the Ariq Bridge, close to the Sea of Galilee, could be swept away by winter rains into the Sea of Galilee's waters, causing severe pollution of the main water sources. The waste is accumulating just meters from the river, near a nature reserve and a national park, also endangering hikers and residents. The organization appealed to the head of the Emek HaYarden Regional Council, Idan Greenbaum, demanding the area be cleaned and that a container, cameras, and monitoring measures be installed. Greenbaum confirmed that this is a known and infuriating problem, but clarified that the council cannot bear the responsibility alone and called on the Ministry of Environmental Protection to allocate budgets. He expressed doubt about the ability to achieve a long-term solution. The Zalul organization emphasizes that a one-time cleanup will not suffice, and that in places where similar measures were implemented, a significant reduction in the nuisance was recorded.