Environment Ministry sanctions likely to cause water shortages - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Sat., December 29, 2007 Tevet 20, 5768

Israel Time: 17:53 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Rosner's Domain

Diplomacy

Defense

Jewish World

Opinion

National

Print Edition

Advertising

Books

Arts & Leisure

Business

Real Estate

Easy Start

Travel

Week's End

Anglo File

Magazine

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Last update - 01:57 28/12/2007

Environment Ministry sanctions likely to cause water shortages

By Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz Correspondnet

Tags: sanctions, Ezra

Work stoppages at the Ministry of Environment are likely to threaten the country's water supply, industrial activity and refuse treatment in the coming days. Ministry employees are demanding that their salaries be upgraded to the same level as their counterparts in other government offices.

The most immediate threat posed by the work stoppages is to the water supply, as Mekorot, the national water supplier, will not be able to renew its license to use chlorine in the water supply.

E

	Advertisement

nvironment Minister Gideon Ezra Thursday refused to push his staff to prepare Mekorot's annual permit. "We tried to resolve the problem by talking to the Treasury, but to date we have not been successful," Ezra said. "We have another meeting with them on Sunday. Hopefully we will find a solution," he added.

"We have sufficient chlorine for use for several weeks," said Danny Sofer, director of the central region at Mekorot, Thursday.

"In any case, we will supply water but we will be in violation of the law if we use chlorine, because we will lack a valid permit to use chemicals, but would also be in violation if we provide water without chlorine, because the health code requires that we use materials for improving the water quality."

Earlier this week, Shraga Brosh, president of the Manufacturers Association in Israel, called on Ezra to take action to bring the work stoppages to an end. Brosh explained that industry needed the ministry to renew permits for handling dangerous materials, or their importation
into the country.

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Who shot Bhutto?
	Conspiracy theories over the assassination of the Pakistani opposition leader abound.


	Obama and Israel
	Israelis following the U.S. elections are not clear on Obama's approach.




1.	Easy Solution	10:35	\|	Anton	28/12/07

2.	What, ordinary Israelis to suffer water shortages?	10:36	\|	Clickfool	28/12/07

3.	Let the Pals dig wells instead of graves	18:00	\|	Petra	28/12/07

4.	Petra	01:03	\|	Angela	29/12/07

Today Online


	2 Israelis killed, one hurt in W. Bank shooting attack
	Responses: 398


	Benn, Rosner: Israel needs a 'Rice bypass road' to White House
	Responses: 163


	PM to Abbas: Israel will not undermine peace efforts
	Responses: 109


	Akiva Eldar: Peace deal must start with prisoner release
	Responses: 95


	IDF kills former PA premier's bodyguard during W. Bank raid
	Responses: 94


	New version of old defense group guards Jewish farmlands
	Responses: 44

Rosner's Domain

Rosner's Mailbox: Why should Ron Paul care about Israel?

The blog and the Jews (WTR)

An exacerbated tension between Olmert and Rice

Poll: The most likely event to happen in 2008

More Headlines
16:11 PA minister vows 'harsh measures' against killers of 2 Israelis


16:05 Official says PA dismantling Al-Aqsa and other militant groups


17:46 Senator sees 'real opportunity' for resuming Syria-Israel talks


13:27 Sarkozy, in Egypt, offers French nuclear assistance to Cairo


17:28 U.S. court overturns award over W. Bank shooting of yeshiva boy


15:36 Close to two thousand pilgrims from Gaza trapped in Egypt


22:03 Some U.S. candidates warn: The real danger is Pakistan, not Iran


16:57 PA arrests three Israelis in Bethlehem, transfers them to Israel


17:16 Bhutto aides accuse gov't of cover-up; militants deny part in killing


10:34 PM announces intention to change building permits