July war: Biggest environmental catastrophe to hit the country
By Racha Adib, Staff Writer

Texas, United States of America – One thousand one hundred eighty-nine fatalities and fifteen billion dollars worth of damages were not the only consequences of the 34-day Israeli offensive on Lebanon. According to Green Line, a Lebanese environmental group, “[the] war in Lebanon brings about the biggest environmental catastrophe in the history of the country”. Yaacoub Sarraf, the country’s environment minister, estimates that it could take up to a decade for the environment to fully recover.
             
On July 14, 2006, Israeli warplanes bombed the Jiyyeh power plant. Greenpeace estimated that 15,000 to 30,000 tons of oil were released into the Mediterranean Sea. The damage could not be controlled until a ceasefire was declared four weeks later allowing winds and currents to drive the oil spill upwards. “The more you wait, the more it spreads,” U.N. official says of the long delay. Oil slick now covers the entire coastline North of Jiyyeh as well as the Syrian coastline and has reached as far as the waters of Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. When currents change direction this winter, it is likely that the Israeli coastline will be affected as well.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have declared that marine life will suffer greatly. Shoreline examinations confirm the presence of poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), a toxic substance released from the degradation of fuel oil. PAH is carcinogenic and may result in the sudden collapse of fish populations. Professor Rick Steiner, a marine biologist from the University of Alaska Marine Advisory Program, was recently in Beirut to advise the Ministry of Environment.  “I was down on the coast here in Beirut” he told Reuters. “Everything on it − limpets, invertebrate fauna, algae, fish, crabs, mussels − it was all dead.”  The Lebanese coastline is an important site for many fish and sea turtles, some of which are endangered. Of these endangered species is the green turtle whose eggs hatch in the month of July. After hatching, baby turtles will need to reach the deep waters fast. With the oil slick in the way, Green Line believes baby turtles are not likely to make it.

The marine environment has not been the only victim of this catastrophe. The oil spill has also had a considerable impact on the fishing and tourism sectors. An estimated 3,500 fishermen have lost their jobs and their main source of income. The fish market has practically collapsed mainly due to the health concerns of its customers. Although George Tohmeh, the president of the Center for Scientific Research (CSR), reported that the fish was safe for consumption as the analysis of samples taken had not shown significant contamination, the consumers remain hesitant. Moreover, the oil spill, compounded by the Israeli offensive, has had a grave impact on the tourism sector. Around 60% of the tourism industry is dependent on water-related activities, and it will continue to be affected until the water is clean years from now. The Ministry of Tourism has estimated a $3 billion loss which will burden the already fragile Lebanese economy.

Sarraf has affirmed that Lebanon is planning to sue Israel for the deliberate bombing of the Jiyyeh power plant. Under the international humanitarian law and the Rome Statue, Article 8(2)(b)(iv) criminalizes “intentionally launching an attack in the knowledge that such attack will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects or widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipated.” Professor Steiner believes that Israel should establish a $1 billion Eastern Mediterranean Oil Spill Restoration Fund. In a letter sent to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Steiner wrote, "I am not taking sides here in this conflict. As the tank farm is within 100 m of the sea, it was clear that such an attack could lead to a massive oil pollution disaster in the eastern Mediterranean basin, and as such likely violated international laws of war." Steiner believes that "The Jiyyeh attack and resulting oil spill had no strategic value whatsoever. Are we still barbarians at war, pitching boiling oil on our enemies over the castle walls here? We simply must find a better way to behave in the 21st century, even in war."

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