Haifa mayor: Bazan Refinery must be evacuated and removed from the city

According to Maariv, Yona Yahav, the Mayor of Haifa, stated that in the wake of Iran’s missile response and the significant damage to the Bazan Refinery, the presence of the refinery and its parent company constitutes a serious and existential threat to Haifa and must be evacuated and removed from the area.

He noted that findings from the inspection of the refinery confirm the dangerous nature of the Bazan Group’s presence and the risk it poses to the lives of the city’s residents.

Stressing that the threat from the company is "clear and undeniable," Yahav said: “The Israeli cabinet must act immediately to evacuate and relocate this company.”

In a related statement, Avihu Han, head of Haifa’s Environmental Protection Association, said that residents of Haifa are once again paying the price for the arrogance and irresponsibility of the Bazan Group.

He further emphasized that there is no longer any place for the company in the heart of Haifa’s population and called for an immediate halt to the reconstruction or repair of the refinery.

Yesterday, the Times of Israel, citing the Bazan Group, reported that the refinery in Haifa sustained serious damage during Iran’s attack and may not resume operations for several months.