Before the Independence war, the refineries in Haifa were the largest plant in the area. It employed 2400 workers, 400 Jews and the rest Arabs. The security was in the hands of 130 Arabs policemen. In the refineries also camped a unit from the Arab legion commanded by British officers.
After the UN resolution to create the Israeli state there was tension in the plant but correct work relationships existed.
On December 30 1947 members of the “Etzel” organization threw two bombs towards a group of Arab workers standing outside the refineries gates. 6 Arabs were killed and 50 were wounded. Minutes later the Arabs workers inside the plant started to riot and kill the Jewish workers. The riot lasted more then hour and were stopped only after the British army acted.
39 Jewish workers were killed and 51 wounded.