The 584,000-shekel ($125,000) fine was the result of the judge's conviction that the company had seen past fines as merely a monetary inconvenience. Previous fines have been low enough to qualify as a company expense, the judge explained, and did not mitigate the financial benefits of dumping the waste rather than treating it or disposing of it properly.
The indictment was filed by the Environmental Ministry against the company and its deputy director Ami Alexanderone. It accused the company of using the permission granted by the ministry to dump certain chemicals into the Mediterranean as a fig-leaf to dump outrageous amounts of toxic substances into the water, without regard for human and environmental health.
The Environmental Ministry, which issues "pollution permits" to the chemical corporation to allow it to dump regulated amounts, claimed that Haifa Chemicals has consistently abused that privilege, dumping more than it is allowed.
A plea-bargain deal was tentatively reached between the Environmental Ministry and the company. Krayot Magistrates Court Judge Mordechai Argaman, however, rejected the plea bargain and ruled that the unusually large fine must be paid by the company.
Argaman wrote that damage to the public's health must be considered when dealing with companies that knowingly violate the law regarding dumping toxic waste. He added that it seemed the matter was motivated purely by the desire for financial gain, with a complete disregard for the consequences.
The judge also said that the fine must serve as a deterrent for other companies who may consider similar infractions.
At the same time, Argaman agreed to drop the indictment against Alexanderone.
Environmentalist organizations insist that the practice of looking at the disposal of waste as a financial question for companies will continue to result in environmental disaster until senior managers are indicted for violations.