Haifa Mayor: Cancerous Fumes Closing Schools Are a Real Alarm

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav declared that the closure of schools due to carcinogenic substances in the air is a "real alarm," not just a warning light, and demanded an end to the "neglect." He stated that in a proper country, children should not be kept home due to industrial air pollution, nor should residents be instructed to seal their homes. Yahav criticized the continued operation of polluting factories in the heart of the Haifa metropolitan area, highlighting the recent incident involving abnormal benzene concentrations, a known carcinogen, which led to the closure of two schools. He called on the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health to ensure that the work causing the pollution does not resume until a full investigation is completed, risks are removed, and public protection measures are implemented. He also demanded a full account from the Bazan Group and strict oversight, enforcement, and transparency from government ministries regarding monitoring results.

Yahav reiterated his call for the closure of the oil refineries by 2029, stating that this incident proves the decision cannot be delayed. He asserted that the residents of Haifa and the Krayot are not second-class citizens and their health, especially that of children, is not to be trifled with. He emphasized that the refineries must be closed by 2029, rejecting further delays or excuses and urging the government to stop abandoning the residents of the Haifa metropolitan area.

The Kiryat Ata municipality confirmed that classes were canceled at two schools, the Social High School in the Dshanim complex and the "Erezim" school in the industrial zone, following guidelines from the Ministries of Health, Education, and Environmental Protection. The municipality is in constant contact with school administrations and parents regarding remote learning and is monitoring pollution data, promising to take all necessary steps to protect public health. Classes will resume only when maximum safety levels are reached.

News 13 initially reported that the pollutant levels measured at a school in Kiryat Ata were the highest in recent years, at 12.9 cubic meters per day, 3.3 times the permitted standard. Benzene is a definite carcinogen linked to increased leukemia rates. Despite this, the relevant ministries did not deem it necessary to cancel classes yesterday. Following the report, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health announced that classes would not be held in schools near the refineries for the next 24 hours, with alternative facilities provided. The Bazan Group stated that the increased emission resulted from renovations in one of its facilities and that relevant government authorities were previously informed. The ministries also recommended that the public within a kilometer of the refineries, especially children and pregnant women, avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure, and advised workers in the industrial zone to close windows and use air conditioners.

The Bazan Group responded by stating it employs advanced environmental measures and technologies to minimize its environmental impact and will continue to operate responsibly in full cooperation with regulators and health authorities.