In early June 2025, another confused and hesitant discussion took place in the Haifa City Council on the issue of the evacuation of the ZAN. Opposition council members, David Etzioni and Zeev Sonenzon, raised a motion of order whose purpose was to demand transparency from the city leadership in presenting the steps and timetables related to advancing the struggle to evacuate the ZAN from Haifa Bay.
The weakness of local government in Haifa
The answers that came from the deputy mayors' table (the mayor didn't bother to respond in person) were, in my opinion, stammering to say the least, with Deputy Mayor Avihu Han being asked just one question over and over again, to which he hesitated in answering – "What is the target date for evacuation?" Finally, Han's answer – "2030" – was quite disturbing.
This target, or more precisely the end of 2030 according to the Haifa Bay Authority, reflects a one-year postponement of the latest deadline set by the Authority. This new deadline reflects the continued trend of postponing the evacuation deadlines that have been published over the past few years. The list of actions presented by Hahn, which was supposedly supposed to represent the advancement of the evacuation of the complex, also failed to explain why the deadline continues to be postponed. Incidentally, the request for transparency raised by members of the City Council, regarding the conduct of the struggle to evacuate the ZAN, was rejected by a majority vote of the council members (18 against, 5 in favor, 1 abstained).
More doubts than hopes
The day after the vote, Deputy Mayor Sarit Golan appeared on social media, attempting to present the efforts that were made to advance the evacuation plan. One key insight emerges from her words: "The efforts are increasing, but the convoy is passing."
In my opinion, she planted more doubts than hopes, when she finally stated that the one currently holding up the moves is the Ministry of Finance. This desperate call illustrates the weakness of the local government in Haifa, in promoting an urgent and early evacuation process of the BAZN. Other players in the region have long recognized this weakness and are already seeking to carry the flag of leadership instead of Haifa. For example, the mayor of Nesher, Roi Levy, claimed at the "New Haifa Bay" conference: "Nesher is ready to take the lead."
Another nail in the coffin of the evacuation initiative in Zan
The Iranian missile strike on the ZAWN complex, which brought its activities to a standstill for several days, is not the first attack on the complex by Israeli forces, and it is possible that it will be hit again in the current campaign. But after the end of the campaign against Iran, Gaza, and Hezbollah, is this the last attack for the next few decades?
In contrast to the extreme disaster scenarios associated with the attack on the Bazan, the recent damage to the complex was indeed severe and resulted in the loss of precious human life, but the physical reconstruction, at least, will probably occur relatively quickly.
So does the fact that the ZANN facility survived the many attacks and threats it faced in various arenas indicate that perhaps there is no longer a need to urgently evacuate it for security reasons?
It seems that the evacuation of the ZAN compound is not only not high on the State of Israel's priority list at this time, but that its position will even deteriorate. The state is currently engaged in much more urgent and expensive tasks, and the deputy mayor's desperate call barely crossed the borders of the city of Haifa. The missile that hit the compound a few days ago, and which we hope is the last to do so, is another nail in the coffin of the ZAN evacuation initiative in the coming decade. Haifa's tired leadership will probably not succeed in changing national priorities, and it will probably also not succeed in doing something much simpler - being transparent to the public and reporting responsibly about the failure of the moves to evacuate ZAN in the coming decade.
Attorney Sarit Golan, Deputy Mayor of Haifa, said in response:
David Etzioni is back on the election campaign trail with the group around him, and as befits an election campaign, they are running around reciting obscure slogans about evacuating the ZEN. I suggest that anyone who claims to present a plan on his behalf should not settle for a snapshot with a CEO or minister, but rather actually present the stages of the journey from his perspective.
Let's start with the fact that Tsitoni and Sagi will tell me about at least two materials that BZN produces and for which an alternative is needed. They will probably fail the test. They are counting on the public falling for empty slogans. But the public is not stupid and we saw this in the last election campaign.
Suggests that Mr. Etzioni start acting as a council member and not as a perpetual candidate in the elections.
Response from Mr. Avihu Hahn, Deputy and Acting Mayor of Haifa:
It's unbelievable how much audacity can be packed into one useless proposal in a city council.
David Etzioni and Zeev Sonenzon – two people who have done nothing in their public lives to evacuate Bazan – dare to talk about “transportation”? Where have you been in the last decade? When we demonstrated in the rain and wind, in the Hamsinin in front of the fuel tanks of oil infrastructures (1231), in front of refineries, knocked on the doors of the government, drafted and led Government Resolution XNUMX in the Bennett, Lapid, Gantz government to evacuate the polluting factories from Haifa Bay – you did not appear for even one demonstration or before a single Knesset committee.
Those who acted and are responsible for starting the evacuation of the village are us. Not you, not empty Facebook videos.
While we are working with government ministries to promote the evacuation of the ZAN, you are producing worthless peace proposals and issuing baseless media statements.
Remind us – what exactly did you do besides talk?
Maybe you'll stop looking for culprits and start moving something? Maybe you'll take advantage of your connections in the Likud - and finally move Gideon Sa'ar to do something for Haifa?
Enough with the shows. The public is not stupid. The public knows exactly who works for them – and who is just talking about it.
The so-called "barking dog doesn't bite".
Haifa doesn't need more shows - it needs results. And we continue to lead in that.
Response from Zeev Sonenzon, a member of the city council:
Every word of Dr. Yariv Sagi – a stamp in the pony.
Once again we see how the local leadership – and especially Deputy Mayor Avihu Haan – stutters, delays, squirms, and above all, does not take responsibility. Instead of setting a clear target for the evacuation of the ZAN – we get a loose date, convoluted explanations, and evasions. The public is no longer buying it.
When the health of the residents of Haifa, the suburbs, and the north is at stake – courageous leadership is needed, not tired excuses. Aim for an opponent like Sagi who is not afraid to tell the truth to his face.
Sorry for being (perhaps) offline, but what does the Haifa Municipality have to do with this matter? It's much bigger than it is and the solution is not found within its territory.
Bazan must not be closed under any circumstances, it must be moved. The country cannot rely on importing distillates. It has nowhere to store them, it does not have the budget to build the infrastructure, and most importantly, it does not have a fleet of ships to take care of supplying distillates in a time of war when ships of foreign trading companies refuse to dock here (as happened and is happening right now).
Appropriate space must be allocated in a suitable location and an alternative refining site and appropriate infrastructure must be established for the National Petroleum Corporation or in partnership with the National Petroleum Corporation, and only then can a gradual transfer begin until evacuation.
For this, we need government ministries and infrastructure and government budgets, and most importantly, decisions and work teams and individual plans with timetables. The Haifa Municipality can try to pressure, but it is not the solution.
Since the decision of the Supreme Court has already been made, the patient must petition the Supreme Court until it orders the minister to provide answers or cancel the decision and provide an explanation to the public.
You're barking up the wrong tree and hoping in vain that some cat will come down.
Hello Jones, the role of the authorities in the ongoing struggle to remove polluting industries from Haifa Bay is to ensure that the praise does not stop, to be the alarmist at the gate, the government's alarm clock, and most importantly, to know how to motivate residents to take action if necessary. Unfortunately, all of this in Haifa is expressed in silent whining that the Ministry of Finance easily removes from the agenda.
Thank you, Sagi.
According to Sarit Golan: "The one who is currently delaying the moves is the Ministry of Finance."
Why are finance officials delaying budgeting for the evacuation of the ZAN?
Answer: Because proceeds from the sale of the land are not expected to be enough to cover the cost of restoring the environment (given the relatively low land prices and demand in the area – compared to land alternatives in Krayot, Nesher and the surrounding area).
How do you increase the demand and price of land in the Gulf?
Answer: A direct and fast train directly to the Mifratz center (25 minutes Tel Aviv-Mifratz, instead of an hour and 13 minutes today).
Who opposes a direct train to the Gulf Central Station? Golan-Steinberg, Hahn, Etzioni, and more. In short, all elected officials in Haifa, in practice, are working against the evacuation of the factories.
Thus, these elected officials are also acting directly against the interests of the residents of Kiryat Haim, Neve Sha'anan, the Technion, the development of the airport, and more.
You don't understand what this is all about. Who will provide the energy, fuel, planes, tanks, military vehicles and trucks? Stop pretending and playing politics over such a strategic location. Think carefully. We are a country that prioritizes security first and foremost. If there were no Bazan, who would drive the tanks that fought on 7/10? Who would fly the planes that attacked Gaza, Lebanon and Iran? Anyone who talks about closing Bazan probably doesn't understand the issue.
We are a country of wars, and all the time, during wars, the ports were closed to receive fuel, and we have experienced this now.
Hello dear Dvir, in my opinion this is much more than a train to the Gulf Central. This is a process on a national scale that should largely change the face of the country in many aspects. Unfortunately, if the Ministry of Finance sees things only through the narrow prism of the cost of cleaning up the land, then we are in much bigger trouble than I thought….
You have no idea. There is no connection between what happened in the 70s and 80s and today's pollution.
It is impossible to give up such a strategic location and rely on other countries in time of war.
The problem of polluting factories in Haifa Bay is serious and dangerous enough and should not be turned into another opportunity for political exchanges. When will you wake up? This is a safety and health hazard for all residents of the region. This should be a top priority. The fight so far to eliminate this malignancy has not been enough. The fact is, the factories are still here.
Ruth is absolutely right. I think the struggle is about just issues, the problem in my opinion is the laxity of the leading figures.
Everyone wants to travel in cars, to fly, so that the road won't get in the way, that there won't be traffic jams, that there will be tanks, but in the cafeteria in Tiberias... Dear Jews, the country is not run like a class committee. The country needs two active refineries to ensure diesel and diesel fuel for tanks. Want to import distillates? Please prepare storage infrastructure protected by national plans. Should cooking gas be stored? There will be objections to every location. I remember the lands of the north that were an effective storage solution behind the gas field, and although I understand the opponents, it turned out to be a disaster. Green organizations have passed their time, even when their time was right. Those who go to a gourmet restaurant will pollute the atmosphere with methane, we are all the same, both the cobbler and the emperor. Not just sheep. This is a purely professional matter, orderly, with standards, and it should be handled by professionals, not just politicians and greens. Not friends from the Technion, not award winners dancing with the stars, not media people… professionals with performance characteristics and public representatives who lift, not smart-assed and skilled screamers. Step by step. From budget to budget. From position papers to working papers, schedules….. How can you breathe in this Valentine's plasticine????
The government in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem ignores Haifa, which has not voted for Likud for decades.
Hello Eli, I think it's even worse than that. The government is ignoring a metropolis of about a million and a half residents, some of whom have actually been voting for Likud for decades, but that doesn't help either!
Bazan = playing Russian roulette with the lives of all the residents of the North. Another pull of the trigger and another pull… How much longer will our luck play tricks on us?
The mayor of Nesher wants to "lead"? So lead, don't be a fool!
When Avi Bitan, the Likudnik mayor of Dimona, wanted the airport to be in the Negev and not in the Nevatim, he directly praised the members of the government and achieved a tremendous achievement. If David Etzioni really wants to oust Bazan and not just attack the municipality, he should take action.
And there's no point wasting words on Yona Yahav at all...
'How long will our luck last?'
I didn't understand: what "luck"?
First place in the country in the prevalence of malignant diseases – is that "lucky"?
Young people running away – is it "luck"?
We are well past the ninetieth minute.
Where is my response???
Attorney Sarit Golan, Chairwoman of the Local Planning and Building Committee, is the correction for the shortcomings and lack of professionalism in engineering and city planning issues over the past decade...
The residents have gained a personality that does not accept any answer as a Torah from Sinai, but rather goes about examining, investigating, and then making decisions.
Her most important characteristic, unlike others...
They didn't buy it, it's not the mouthpiece of any council member or anything, and it can't be bought.
Works solely for the benefit of the residents of Haifa and the city of Haifa.
Haifa residents already understand that Sarit will be the next mayor, so all the campaigners are starting to work against her and are busy slandering her while she is busy thinking and acting for the benefit of the public.
I would love to see Sarit Golan as our beautiful mayor. And in particular, even though she is a local politician, she is a true man. I hope she has weaned herself from the delusional slogans of her past. On the other hand, what I find in Sarit, Avihu Hahn has lost. As a leader. Even though his list is respected for its good and bad.
As usual, you don't understand, Yariv.
The security, health, and economic reasons still justify evacuation.
Hello Matti, no one doubts the necessity of removing Bazan from Haifa Bay. What's more, it seems that the current government and the deputies who hang around there are unable to promote the removal for any reason, no matter how justified.
Every word of Dr. Yariv Sagi – a stamp in the pony.
Once again we see how the local leadership – and especially Deputy Mayor Avihu Haan – stutters, rejects, squirms, and above all, does not take responsibility.
Instead of setting a clear target for evacuation in the city, we get a loose date, convoluted explanations, and evasions.
The public is no longer buying it.
When the health of the residents of Haifa, the suburbs, and the north is at stake, courageous leadership is needed, not tired excuses.
They aspired to be an opponent like Sagi who wasn't afraid to tell the truth.
Zeev Sonenzon, member of the Haifa City Council
Thank you very much Zeev! We must not give up on the demand for transparency in processes that are so important to residents. They cannot release videos and rumors without any basis and results on the ground! Especially when the results are simply the opposite!
It's time to tell the truth and inform everyone and not sweep it under the rug. Haifa and the Kiryat Haim are polluted, full of morbidity, cancer, respiratory diseases, there are petrochemical factories, fuels. It's time to close these factories. There is no green in Haifa. The main thing is that they built parks in Kishon. Degania Street in Kiryat Haim is full of pollution and diseases! Close the factories immediately.
Agree with every word!