Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., April 16, 2008 Nisan 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:02 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 02:40 16/04/2008 SPNI: Gov't plans to ban swimming at 90 percent of country's beaches By Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Beaches, Meir Sheetrit  The Interior Ministry is planning to ban swimming at more than 90 percent of the country's beaches, according to the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. The group is calling on Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit not to approve the plan. Information received by the SPNI indicates that Sheetrit intends to sign an order turning all beaches where swimmers are responsible for their own safety into beaches where swimming is banned. This would increase the proportion of banned Mediterranean beaches from 35 percent today to more than 90 percent. Along Lake Kinneret, about half the beaches are prohibited to swimmers today, but if the plan were to go into effect, that proportion would shoot up to 97 percent. Advertisement This translates into each person in Israel getting a mere 2 millimeters of the Mediterranean and 0.2 millimeters of the Kinneret in which they are allowed to swim, according to the SPNI. "A comprehensive swimming ban is not the way to reduce the state's risks," said SPNI director Gershon Peleg. "Such a ban is intended to relieve the Interior Ministry of responsibility for the matter of arranging swimming in a suitable fashion. According to this method, trips can be prohibited across the Negev, in the northern valleys, in the mountains of Eilat, and in every charming corner of our country because it's dangerous to travel and because the state is liable to be sued." The Interior Ministry said the legality of the beach closures was under examination and that no decision has so far been made. Beaches banned to swimmers are considered dangerous, and violating the ban constitutes a criminal offense. The public will now have to choose between crowding the few permissible beaches or swimming in prohibited ones, at the risk of incurring a fine or even jail time, the SPNI said. The organization said the Interior Ministry conducted a risk assessment of the beaches but is ignoring the data it collected. The SPNI also argued that it will be impossible to enforce the altered status of the beaches. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Never forget Peres, at Warsaw uprising memorial: Israel will avenge Holocaust through peace. Return to Haifa Provocative new play evokes sympathy for both Jews and Palestinians   1.   For how long????????? 03:25  |  Northern 16/04/08   2.   Stop this folly. Israelis need to relax in nature. 05:47  |  Fortuna Benmayor 16/04/08   3.   Everywhere is a big Problem for Beaches! 08:13  |  The Archives 16/04/08   4.   Put Up Sign Boards of Fines for Throwing Rubbish. 08:26  |  The Archives 16/04/08   5.   Another is to provide Locker Rental 11:01  |  The Archives 16/04/08

Read & React UN calls for disarming of Hezbollah, Israel-Lebanon solution Responses: 25 Arrow successfully simulates intercept of mock Shihab missile Responses: 24 IDF officials predict Hamas PR campaign against blockade Responses: 4 Two IDF soldiers killed in clashes near Gaza border Responses: 9 Yossi Melman: It's time to free Vanunu once and for all Responses: 6 Editorial: Iran's threats against Israel are not just empty rhetoric Responses: 4 Rosner's Domain Is it illegal for Carter to meet with Hamas? (WTR) Hillary Clinton and queen Esther Poll: Were you convinced that America should stay in Iraq? Is neoconservatism Jewish? (WTR) More Headlines 11:52 Two IDF soldiers killed in clashes near Gaza border 11:23 Survey: Nasrallah is the most admired leader in the Arab world 11:31 Report: Netanyahu says 9/11 terror attacks good for Israel 10:27 New Jewish-American lobby wants to provide an alternative to AIPAC 09:41 IDF officials predict Hamas PR campaign against blockade 10:43 Opulence of Qatar leaves impression on visiting Livni 09:43 Just 30% of Israelis support open chain stores on Shabbat 11:45 Hamas sends leaders Zahar and Seyam to meet Carter in Cairo 09:39 Arrow successfully simulates intercept of mock Shihab missile 10:42 Haredi extremists plan Jerusalem protests over chametz ruling 08:52 Police boost security, on high alert for Passover holiday 06:22 UN calls for disarming of Hezbollah, Israel-Lebanon solution Previous Editions Select Day 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved