Haifa Mayor Demands End to "Negligence" After Benzene Pollution Closes Schools
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav has demanded an end to "negligence" following a severe air pollution incident at the Bazan complex that forced two schools to close due to carcinogenic benzene. He called the situation "serious and unbearable" and urged government ministries to halt related work until a full investigation. Yahav also reiterated his demand for the oil refineries to be shut down by 2029, stating residents are not "second-class citizens."
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav condemned severe air pollution from Bazan that closed two schools due to carcinogenic benzene.
- Yahav called the situation "serious and unbearable" and demanded an immediate end to the "negligence."
- He requested government ministries halt work causing the pollution until a full investigation is completed.
- The mayor demanded a full account from Bazan and strict government oversight and enforcement.
- Yahav reiterated his call for the oil refineries to be closed by 2029, citing the incident.
- He stated that Haifa residents are not "second-class citizens" and their health is not to be trifled with.
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav has strongly condemned the severe air pollution incident at the Bazan petrochemical complex, which led to the closure of two schools due to carcinogenic benzene levels. "When schools are closed because of cancer-causing materials in the air, it's no longer a warning light. It's a real alarm. This negligence must stop," Yahav stated, calling the event "serious and unbearable."
He criticized the ongoing operation of polluting factories within the densely populated Haifa Bay area, emphasizing that residents are forced to take protective measures like staying indoors and closing windows. The mayor specifically highlighted the recent exposure to abnormal concentrations of benzene, a known carcinogen, and the subsequent school closures.
Yahav has formally requested that the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health prevent the resumption of work that caused the pollution until a full investigation is completed. He also demanded a complete account from Bazan, along with strict government oversight, uncompromising enforcement, and full transparency regarding monitoring results.
Furthermore, Yahav reiterated his call for the closure of the oil refineries by 2029, a demand he recently presented to all party leaders. He argued that this incident underscores the urgency of the decision, stating, "Haifa and Krayot residents are not second-class citizens. Their health is not to be trifled with, and their children are not guinea pigs."
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