Last update - 00:00 05/12/2006
Nat'l Planning Council approves path to open Kinneret beaches
By Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz Correspondent
The National Council for Planning and Building on Tuesday approved a plan
to build a continuous pedestrian path circling Lake Kinneret, which would
enable free access to all the lake's beaches.
"Lake Kinneret is one of Israel's most important scenic treasures and a
central recreation hub for Israelis," said Shamai Asif, head of planning in the Interior Ministry, which adopted the initiative.
"In recent years parts of its beaches have been blocked to the public. The ministry is making efforts to open the Kinneret and give it back to the public and take down the illegal fences and structures," he said.
The path was initiated by the Society for Protection of Nature in Israel
(SPNI), which began its construction two years ago. The construction will need state funding and the removal of the fences set up on the Kinneret's beaches.
The path, built within 50 meters from the Lake's upper water level, will not harm the lake's natural scenery and no construction will be allowed along it. Only within Tiberias' boundaries will the path constitute a promenade, lined with cafes and restaurants.
SPNI officials on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the approval to build the path.
"This is another important step toward the state's taking responsibility for our national lake, which has been neglected for years," said Nir Papai, SPNI's sea and shore preservation coordinator. "We hope the state allocates the required resources for this major national project," he said.
SPNI officials said that in the past year several barriers that preventing free passage to the Kinneret's beaches were removed. However, most of the lake's beaches are still surrounded by fences, and and many of them can only be entered for payment.