Yahav against Kiryat Ata mayor: "Bazan gives him money"

Haifa mayor Yona Yahav attacked Kiryat Ata mayor Yaakov Peretz on radio over his silence on benzene pollution in Haifa Bay, claiming the refineries give him money. Peretz replied that Yahav chases headlines and acts populistically, and accused him of defamation.

Haifa mayor Yona Yahav attacked Kiryat Ata mayor Yaakov Peretz today (Monday) in an interview with Esti Perez on the program "BaChatzi HaYom" on Kan Reshet Bet, over Peretz's silence in the face of exceptional benzene pollution in Haifa Bay. Yahav claimed the refineries give Peretz money and fund the development of his city, and that this is why he is silent. The interviewer stressed that this was a sharp claim and invited Peretz to respond on air. Yahav also accused the government of abandoning the residents of the bay and ignoring the dangers of the pollution. According to him, the refineries are managed incompetently, causing malfunctions and the emission of dangerous substances. He called on other local authority heads to join the demand to issue closure orders for the plants, including through the courts. Yahav said residents of the area breathe the substances, fall ill and die of cancer, and wondered why data on morbidity rates are not published. He also warned of a security danger from the plant compound during missile attacks. Peretz replied that Yahav wakes up only in times of war and pollution events and acts populistically while chasing headlines. According to him, it was precisely he who acted vis-à-vis the health and environmental protection ministries and brought about the halt of works and a reduction in pollution. Peretz stressed that his position is that the Bazan compound should be closed, and added that the Haifa municipality is the main beneficiary of Bazan's revenues. He further said he intends to take legal action against Yahav over defamation.