Zalul : Israel's beaches have opened. Help us protect them!

Israel's beaches have opened. Help us protect them!

The bathing season has begun in Israel and the beaches are packed with happy faces soaking up the spring sunshine.

At Zalul we love the waves just as much as all the surfers, fisherman and other beachgoers who call the beach their second home. We also believe that everyone in Israel has a right to a clean and safe sea, which is why Zalul spends every day fighting those who try to pollute Israel's rivers and the Mediterranean Sea.

The statistics have been grim so far in 2009. A major sewage pipeline break left the beaches of Tel Aviv closed for 28 days and in Herzliya for 36 days. A breakdown in the regional sewage treatment plant closed the beaches of Ein Bokek at the Dead Sea for a total of 10 days and work being done to Netanya's pipe infrastructure led to the closure of Poleg Beach for 7 days.

When the beaches are polluted, it not only affects the casual beachgoer but the entire State of Israel. Those who ignore warnings can get sick and need medical care, restaurants and cafes along the coastline have fewer customers, and fishermen have no fish to sell at the fish market.

It is time for a serious change and Zalul is making it happen. In March, the Zalul team led a major protest against the pollution of Tel Aviv and Herzliya's beaches with over a 100 supporters and Knesset Members, Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor) and Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz). In Herzliya, Zalul's efforts to bring attention to pollution led to a public hearing by the Ministry of the Environment to determine responsibility. In the city of Yavne, pressure from Zalul has made way for improvements to the local sewage treatment plant.

Additionally, this Passover Zalul led a six day beach clean-up from Acco to Ashkelon to educate the public on the need for clean beaches and a clean sea with Billabong Clothing Company. Zalul brought together over a thousand people from all across Israel to do some "spring cleaning" during the holiday vacation.

If you happen to be in Israel and are planning a trip to the beach we recommend checking the Ministry of Health website (in English) for up-to-date conditions of all the official beaches in Israel.

If you have any questions or concerns about the health and safety of your local beach, do not hesitate to call Zalul's offices at 03-5762666 or email Zalul's Mediterranean Campaign Coordinator, Shahar Brinenberg at Shahar@zalul.org.il.

There is still much more work to do and you can help!

Donate to Zalul on JGooders and help us continue our work teaching Israel's youth about protecting the marine environment.

Beach clean-ups and environmental tours:

If you are visiting Israel with a group or a mission, join us for two hours at the beach for a clean-up, or as we like to call it "tikkun hayam."

Or spend a half or full day with Zalul biking and touring Israel's rivers and learning about the country's environmental history.

Contact Hannah Schafer for more information: Hannah@zalul.org.il.

Stay informed:

To stay updated on Zalul's latest events join Zalul's Facebook group.

Visit our blog:

"Israel Water Blog" at www.israelwaterblog.org for the latest water-related environmental news in Israel.