Rotem Amfert

Thousands of families dependent on the Rotem Amfert plant fear layoffs due to delays in approving the use of Pond 4. Lobby 99 accuses the company's management of exploiting workers' anxiety to secure environmental concessions, while experts warn of pollution risks and the broader environmental costs of mining.

Following the legal battle over the phosphogypsum ponds of Rotem Amfert, thousands of workers in the Negev fear that they will return from the holidays to find there is nowhere to work. Environmental organizations accuse the plant's management of cynically using the workers as a human shield to obtain pollution permits.

The Rotem Amfert Negev plant, which employs thousands of workers in the south, is at a crossroads after appeals against the phosphogypsum reservoir expansion plan were referred to the National Planning and Building Council.