Environment Ministry still examining suspected oil spill, no pollutants found

At a press briefing from a hastily established situation room in Haifa, Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg gives an update on the search for a suspected oil spill off the coast of the country.

Zandberg says no evidence of pollution has yet been found but officials are keeping up their guard until that is confirmed. She tells journalists that officials are “hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.”

Officials at the briefing say the ministry has ruled out the suspected spill as having come from Israel’s natural gas offshore rigs.

Sea and air searches continue to follow up on satellite images and initial evidence from air patrols overnight that indicated there could be patches of oil about 20-40 kilometers off the coast of the central region of the country.

Officials say there is only a narrow window to take advantage of calm seas before a forecast storm arrives tomorrow afternoon.