The organization "Citizens for the Environment in the Galilee" has come out against the Tefen industrial local council, saying that it is concealing information about pollution caused by the factories in its jurisdiction.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Law, the organization recently asked the industrial council to provide it with data on its plants' business permits and pollutant emissions.

The requested information deals with eight of the 30 factories in Tefen's jurisdiction. Last week, the council responded to the organization's request, saying it would provide the information in exchange for various fees, totaling NIS 25,000.

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"This is information that has already been processed, and is in the hands of the council authority," said Liora Aharon from Citizens for the Environment.

"The cost of transferring it to us can't cost more than a few hundred shekels. It is obvious that an organization relying on donations cannot pay the cost demanded by the council, and our conclusion is that the council has something to hide," she continued.

Aharon said that the organization has been involved for several years in dialogue with the council, which is spread over 2,700 square kilometers and provides services to industrial plants, which are its sole "residents."

Most of the contact between the two groups has involved attempts by the Citizens for the Environment to obtain environmental data to hand out to communities neighboring the industrial council.

"Despite the fact that this industrial area has a green appearance, it also has several factories with risk potential," Aharon says. "Dangerous materials are kept there, and processes of production emit pollutants into the air, water and ground. We are trying to get the press involved because we have no choice. They cannot continue to step on us."

Yaron Kimchi, head of the Tefen industrial council, said in response, "We have initiated a forum of factories and environmental organization representatives, and its goal is to build trust and then deal with problems and present information."

"Aharon threatened me this week, saying that if I don't give the information they demand, without the payment we demand in exchange, she will go to the press. I won't agree to act under threats and environmental thuggery. Our legal interpretation says that what we asked is justified. If the organization interprets things differently, we can discuss it in a cultivated and business-like manner."