Irregularities under the cover of law: The benzene failure of Bazan demands a political decision

An abnormal benzene leak from the Bazan complex in Kiryat Ata led to the suspension of studies at two schools, the first time in Israel due to air pollution. The benzene concentration measured in the yard of the Social High School reached nearly 100 µg/m³, 1000 times the normal level. The incident occurs two weeks before the elections and reignites the debate over the future of industry in Haifa Bay.

An abnormal benzene leak from the Haifa Oil Refineries (Bazan) complex led to the suspension of studies at two schools in Kiryat Ata, the first time in Israel that studies have been suspended due to air pollution. The incident occurred during maintenance work at the group's "Gadiv" plant, which produces intermediate materials for the plastics and chemical industries. In the monitoring van in the yard of the Social High School, about 400 meters from the plants, a daily average concentration of 6.6 micrograms per cubic meter of benzene was measured – an exceedance of nearly 70% of the standard. The peak was recorded on Saturday evening, October 10, with a concentration of nearly 100 µg/m³, a figure not observed in the last six years. The Ministry of Health ordered the suspension of studies and the closing of windows for workers within a one-kilometer radius. Bazan claims that the exceedances do not constitute a violation of the Clean Air Law, which permits up to seven exceedances per year per monitoring station. The incident occurs against the backdrop of the political struggle over the future of industry in Haifa Bay, two weeks before the elections, when candidates such as Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan are under pressure from environmental activists to commit to closing the plants by 2029.