Israel: Ministry Denies Beach Pollution

— Israel's Environment Ministry is denying reports from environmentalists that Israeli beaches have high levels of pollution. Rani Amir, director of the Environmental Protection Ministry's marine and coastal environment division, said the sea off the Eilat coast "is in the best shape it's ever been in." He said water quality had consistently improved in the Mediterranean Sea, too. However, Amir said local authorities had failed to properly maintain sewage delivery pipe systems. This contributed to a pipe burst last month that dumped 500 cubic meters of raw sewage into the Gulf of Eilat and closed down beaches in the area...