UN report: No proof Israel damaged Gaza environment

[Behind the Aegis]

The Israeli presence in Gaza has caused only minor environmental damage and will not impede Palestinian development plans in the region, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) released Thursday.

Investigators for UNEP, who arrived in the Gaza Strip after the disengagement at the request of the Palestinian Authority, took soil and water samples from about 100 sites to determine the environmental impact of the settlements, army bases and other Israeli facilities.

Barring a few localized pollution problems that must be dealt with, the assessment states it "did not find contamination of water, land or buildings that poses a significant risk to the environment or public health." The report also noted that its work was carried out in cooperation with Israel.

The UN investigators found a number of oil spills at the Erez industrial zone, and a number of rubble dumps in the Strip that must be removed, specifically to dispose of asbestos.


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