Israel commenced water fluoridation in the 1980s when all major cities were fluoridated. In 2002, Israel enacted national legislation similar to Ireland mandating that all public water supplies throughout the country must be fluoridated. In his affidavit Mr. Leshem stated that when he was employed by the Health Ministry to oversee the water fluoridation programme the department “followed the recommendations of dentists and staff were not allowed to ask questions. Today many studies indicate health risks but the State continues to ignore these studies.”

Mr Leshem, now a retired from public office and working as a strategic environmental consultant changed his mind about water fluoridation following publication of the U.S. National Research Council report on Fluoride (2006) and subsequent independent scientific reports including numerous studies written by Cork based independent Environmental Scientist Declan Waugh. Mr Waugh’s reports addressed in detail the contribution of fluoride intoxication to disease burdens in fluoridated countries such as Ireland, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and North America. His work has been supported by leading members of the United States National Academies including Professor Hardy Limeback, Professor Robert Isaacson and Dr. Kathleen Thiessen.

Only a few countries in the world continue to support fluoridation of drinking water supplies. The Republic of Ireland remains the only country in the European Continent with a mandatory legislative policy mandating that all public water supplies be fluoridated with Hexafluorosilicic acid, a chemical manufactured in Spain. Hexafluorosilicic acid is also listed in the EU as a banned biocidal product under the EU Biocidal Directive.