Greenpeace arrests after Haifa protest

Greenpeace activists on July 28 seized an Israeli barge used for dumping toxic waste in the Mediterranean, chained it to their ship, the Sirius, and dropped anchor at the entrance to a busy Israeli port.

The five activists, including the captain of the Sirius, which last week visited Lebanese ports, were detained after they jumped onto the barge at Haifa port and brandished banners reading "stop dumping now" and "poisoning Haifa Bay." Greenpeace accuses Israeli companies Haifa Chemicals and electric company of regularly dumping their waste in international waters of the Mediterranean. "The dumping of both toxic sludge and coal ash is an outdated practice which Israel should be ashamed of," it said.

The Israeli environment ministry issued a statement saying the dumping of chemical waste and coal ash in the Mediterranean would both cease at the end of this year.