Over 300 objections challenge government proposal to extend secrecy over controversial oil pipeline

More than 300 objections are submitted ahead of the deadline for comments on a government proposal to extend the secrecy rules covering the controversial state-owned Europe Asia Pipeline Company for an additional 18 months after the current arrangements expire on June 1.

The Europe Asia Pipeline Company — formerly the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company — is the best-known of three state companies established by Israel decades ago in a secret partnership with the shah’s Iran.

Until the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the severing of bilateral relations, Iranian oil was quietly picked up by Israel in Eilat on the Red Sea and transported overland to Ashkelon on the Mediterranean, from where it could be shipped to Europe.

It was also used by Israel for internal purposes.

The Society for the Protection of Nature, whose staff first noticed the extension proposal on a government website, writes in its objection — one of 316 submitted: “The old EAPC was involved in deals with security aspects. The new EAPC is a government company, fully owned by the state, subject to the Government Companies Authority, and continues to enjoy heavy confidentiality, even though it is no longer in contact with Iran, and therefore the original justification for imposing confidentiality is no longer valid today.”

Among other objectors, Israel’s Movement for Freedom of Information charges that such an extension “seriously violates the fundamental principles of the democratic system of government in Israel, including transparency, proper administration and public trust, and also ignores the broad public interest in applying the rules of transparency to the activities of a government company.”

Oil leaks connected to the company have caused some of Israel’s worst environmental disasters over the years.

Environmental campaigners have long warned of the dangers an oil spill could unleash on Eilat’s climate-resilient coral reefs. These are not only important as the world continues to warm, but also underpin much of the tourism industries in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.

The proposal is subject to approval by the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.