Israel Sends Delegation to Cyprus for Joint Oil-Pollution Exercise

An Israeli delegation left for Cyprus on November 10 for a joint marine oil-pollution exercise with Greece and Cyprus, the Environmental Protection Ministry announced. Led by the ministry’s National Marine Environmental Protection Unit, the delegation will take part in the three countries’ first exercise combining their forces in an open-sea response to a large-scale oil-pollution incident. The ministry described the planned operation as a “joint response in the open sea.” Activities at sea and in the air will be coordinated through a shared situation room. The exercise is intended to strengthen regional preparedness, information sharing and mutual assistance through the deployment of personnel and equipment to protect the Mediterranean. The delegation includes Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman and senior ministry officials. Fred Arzoan, director of the marine protection unit, will manage Israel’s participation. Representatives of Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, the Shipping and Ports Authority, maritime police and the Israeli Navy are also participating. Silman is expected to join Greek and Cypriot government representatives for a senior political-level meeting in the situation room. The three countries have previously conducted joint situation-room exercises and professional activities. Those preparations form part of their 2018 agreement and regional marine-pollution preparedness under the Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean.