The Environment Quality Authority said, on Monday, that with a cooperation with the customs police in the Tulkarm governorate, in the northern West Bank, it managed to return a truck carrying an Israeli registration plate loaded with waste used nylon and cardboard, which tried to reach the villages of the governorate.

“The truck was seized at one of the barriers in the governorate, and the waste load is estimated as 7 tons collected from Israeli companies for disposal in the Palestinian territories,” The Environment Quality Authority stated in a statement that reached Safa.

The truck driver holds an Israeli identity card, and in the truck's seizure report, he pledged not to repeat the act and return the truck with its cargo to the occupied territories in 1948.

It is stressed that these waste is dangerous and it is prohibited to enter the Palestinian territories in accordance with Article 13 of Law No. 7 of 1999 regarding the environment.

The article states that:

a- The importation of hazardous waste into Palestine is prohibited.

b- The transiting of hazardous waste through the Palestinian territories, regional waters or special economic zones is prohibited except by a special permit from the Ministry

Citizens were called on to cooperate and report any waste smuggling operation by communicating with the Environment Quality Authority staff in the various governorates, or by calling the customs police toll-free number 132, or through the environmental police, in order to stop the Israeli policy of violations against the environment.

Source : Safa