According to Lebanon's Environment Minister Yacoub Sarraf, Israeli jets deterred firemen from putting out the fire at the storage units, which continued for 10 days, and the Israeli Navy blockade stopped Lebanese and foreign officials from surveying the damage of the spill.
Émile Lahoud had him appointed Minister of the Environment in the Fouad Siniora government formed in July 2005.
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He submitted his resignation from the cabinet on November 11, 2006, but Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has rejected the resignation.