A NIS 1 billion lawsuit was filed against this morning in the Beersheva District Court against Makhteshim Chemical Works Ltd., a plant owned by fertilizer company Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd. (TASE: MAIN). The plaintiffs, who have also asked that the court approve the suit as a class action, claim the pollution produced by the plant, which produces chemicals for the global agricultural industry, has put the lives of 250,000 Negev residents at risk.
The plaintiffs, residents of the Wadi El Naam community, who were represented in court by Adv. Yohai Geva, claim the pollution "is one of the worst cases of air pollution by hazardous substances ever in Israel. Random inspections of the plant's chimneys found that they had grossly exceeded the levels set by the plant's operating license for emissions of carbon tetrachloride, methyl isobutyl ketone, and volatile organic compounds."
These substances, it was claimed, were highly toxic and could result in cancer, as well as damage to the nervous system, liver, kidneys, and other organs. The plaintiffs said that Makhteshim "had been polluting the air for years, and it was continuing to do so despite all the warnings, disciplinary proceedings against its management, fines, and private notices of complaint, and it posed a clear and present danger to the residents of Beersheva, Beduin communities, Kibbutz Revivim, and Segev Shalom."
The plaintiffs also allege in their lawsuit that a comprehensive epidemiology report due to be published in the near future by the Ministry of Health will show that Beersheva has had the highest rate of incidences of cancer since 2001, and that these have risen by 40% more than any other region.
No statement of defense has yet been filed.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on October 7, 2007
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007