This morning (Sunday), the government unanimously approved the decision to stop petrochemical activities in Haifa Bay and promote a plan to develop infrastructure and economic growth engines in the Gulf. Government decision initiated by the Foreign Minister Yair Lapid Formulated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the National Economic Council.
According to the decision, the activity of the petrochemical industry will cease in Haifa Bay within a decade. At the same time, a plan for the development of the area will be promoted by infrastructure, residential and transportation projects amounting to billions of shekels.
In order to implement the decision, a dedicated directorate will be established, which will deal with the removal of barriers, include inter-ministerial cooperation and cooperation between local government and civil society in promoting the implementation of projects and monitor and report to the government on meeting deadlines.
The Minister of Finance is also a party to the decision Avigdor LiebermanAnd the energy server Karin ElhararTransport Minister Merav Michaeli Minister of Environmental Protection Tamar Zandbergthe minister of Health Nitzan Horowitz And the Minister of the Interior Ayelet Shaked. The Planning Director, the Israel Land Authority, and the Ministry of Economy are also partners in the decision.
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The decision stipulates a reduction in the activity of the petrochemical and chemical industry in Haifa Bay, until the factories close within a decade, as part of negotiations with the companies. The plan will also allow the construction of 70,000-100,000 new housing units in the heart of Haifa.
In terms of transportation, the plan includes upgrading the public transportation infrastructure, including doubling the railway tracks between Tel Aviv and Haifa Bay and the train tunnel in Haifa by 2035, so that the train from Tel Aviv to the Gulf, instead of 80 minutes today – will take only 41 minutes.
It was also decided to reduce or evacuate the tank farms in Kiryat Haim and evacuate the chemical industry in the fertilizer complex, rehabilitate contaminated land for residential purposes, invest enormous resources in green areas, beaches and streams, and rehabilitate Nahal Saadia. The plan also includes the development of a metropolitan park along the ten kilometers of the Kishon River from the Shavit moorings to the lakes of Nesher, which will be larger than the Yarkon Park.
In addition, as part of the plan, it was decided to build a new hospital in Kiryat Ata until 2029. In the meantime, the plan ensures the functional continuity of the energy economy throughout the evacuation process by promoting infrastructure, and will include planning a new high-tech park near the heart of the bay and the cable car from the Technion and Haifa .