Haifa Mayor Demands Refinery Closure After Pollution Event; Bazan Stock Drops 5%

An unusual pollution event in Haifa forced closure of two schools and prompted the mayor to demand the Bazan refinery close by 2029, citing health risks to children. The event is unquantified in scale, but the mayor's rhetoric and the stock drop signal heightened regulatory and reputational pressure on the refinery. This could foreshadow stricter environmental enforcement in Israel's industrial sector.