The environmental police (within the Ministry of Environmental Protection) has opened a criminal investigation into a leak in the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline that occurred last night near Moshav Mishan near Ashkelon.
Around 800 tons of earth have been removed from the area following its contamination.
Responding to the incident, Minister for Environmental Protection Tamar Zandberg (Meretz) said: "This is an extremely serious incident, one which shows us yet again how dangerous it is to transport fossil fuels through the heart of Israel."