Fuel and oil are contaminating the unique ecosystems of the Negev Desert.
A new study reveals a troubling picture: 92 illegal gas stations operate freely in the centers of Bedouin cities in Israel, without oversight and without adhering to safety standards. According to the data, this is a rapidly growing phenomenon: 59 of these stations were opened very recently, while 33 have been operating for more than three years.
In addition to the immediate safety threat, this phenomenon causes significant economic damage: according to the state comptroller, the Israeli economy loses about 400 million shekels a year (approximately 100,000,000 euros) due to fuel sales at such illegal stations. The actual figures are much higher, as the study focused on urban centers rather than deep within Bedouin settlements, and official bodies currently have no systematic monitoring of the scale of the problem.
Moreover, illegal gas stations pose a serious urban planning and environmental threat: fuel and oils seep into the soil and threaten to contaminate groundwater. The use of uncertified fuel can lead to car explosions on the roads and daily pollutes the air with emissions of toxic substances, endangering the residents of the entire Negev region.
Environmental activist Yehuda Kapah stated: "These are dangerous sites that threaten lives. Literally, they can explode in our faces. The proliferation of stations along major transport arteries indicates a complete ineffectiveness of state oversight and a refusal to take responsibility for the Negev. This is a matter of paramount safety that requires the establishment of a powerful and effective joint law enforcement body, including the police, tax authority, and land management of Israel, which will act decisively for the future of the Negev and the entire country."
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