Pollution

Residents of the Menashe region are protesting against ongoing toxic smoke and chemical odors caused by illegal waste burning, demanding urgent government action.

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav slammed severe benzene pollution near local refineries that forced school closures, renewing calls to shut down the plants by 2029.

Yom Kippur traffic halts across Israel led to a dramatic drop in air pollution, with nitrogen oxides and benzene levels plunging significantly in major urban centers.

Residents and bathers at the Haifa beach are complaining about a harsh smell and a large accumulation of seaweed that has been going on for over a week. One resident: "It's impossible to sit on the balcony, we are suffocating." The municipality: "These are seaweed that washed up on the shore naturally."

Daimler's heavy vehicle division faces a potential one-billion-euro fine due to upcoming 2030 EU emission standards. CEO Karin Radstrom cites a critical lack of charging infrastructure as the main obstacle.