Haifa Mayor Demands Government Action on "Unbearable" Petrochemical Pollution
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav is demanding immediate government action following an unusual pollution event near the Bazan oil refinery complex that caused the closure of two schools in Kiryat Ata due to high levels of the carcinogen benzene. He criticized the ongoing operation of polluting factories in a populated area and called for the refineries to be shut down by 2029. The Ministry of Environmental Protection stated it would continue to implement the government's policy to cease petrochemical activities in Haifa Bay.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav demanded government action after an unusual pollution event near the Bazan oil refinery complex.
- Two schools in Kiryat Ata were closed due to elevated levels of the carcinogen benzene in the air.
- Mayor Yahav called the situation an "unbearable reality" and a "true alarm" requiring immediate attention.
- He reiterated his demand for the closure of the oil refineries by 2029.
- The Ministry of Environmental Protection is continuing to implement a policy to cease petrochemical activities in Haifa Bay.
Haifa's mayor, Yona Yahav, has issued a strong condemnation of the petrochemical industry following an "unusual pollution event" near the Bazan oil refinery complex, which led to the closure of two schools in Kiryat Ata due to elevated levels of the carcinogen benzene.
Yahav described the situation as "unbearable reality" and a "true alarm," stating that children should not have to stay home from school because of hazardous air quality. He criticized the continued operation of polluting factories in a densely populated area, where residents are advised to stay indoors and close windows for their health. The mayor demanded a thorough investigation into the incident, urging the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health to ensure that the work causing the pollution does not resume until a full clarification is reached and all necessary measures are taken to protect the public.
He also called for a full account from Bazan and for stricter government oversight, enforcement, and transparency regarding monitoring results. Yahav reiterated his call for the closure of the oil refineries by 2029, emphasizing that the residents of Haifa and the surrounding areas are not second-class citizens and their health is not to be compromised. He stated that this incident proves the decision to close the refineries cannot be delayed any further.
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection had previously ordered the suspension of classes at two schools in Kiryat Ata for 24 hours and recommended that the general population within a kilometer of the refineries limit outdoor activity, especially children and pregnant women. The factories stated that their own tests did not detect any leaks, while the Ministry of Environmental Protection affirmed its commitment to continuing assessments and implementing the government's policy to cease petrochemical activities in the Haifa Bay area.
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