Whose city is it anyway?
A thought-provoking new book uncovers the power struggle between residents and the planning authorities that has raged for decades.
by Esther Zandberg 0 commentsTel Aviv-Jaffa, often simply known as Tel Aviv, is Israel’s second largest city with a population of approximately 340,000 residents. Located on the Mediterranean coast in the Gush Dan region, it is also known as “White City” because of its unique Bauhaus-style architecture and was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003.
Literally translated as “Hill of Spring,” Tel Aviv is widely recognized as Israel’s business, media and cultural center, with a reputation for having a free-spirited cosmopolitan atmosphere.
The city is home to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, the Cameri Theater, the Frederic R. Mann Auditorium and the Suzanne Delal Center for modern and classical dance and also boasts many museums and art galleries, including Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Diaspora Museum.
Tel Aviv is also considered Israel’s leading fashion and style hub, and has been called “the city that never sleeps” and "Manhattan of the Middle East," due to its thriving nightlife, young atmosphere and 24-hour culture.
Tel Aviv’s year-round balmy weather, famous beaches and boardwalks attract tourists from across the globe, and its restaurants are quickly gaining worldwide fame. The city was founded in 1909, when 66 families seeking to leave Jaffa held a beachfront lottery to determine which plots of land each would receive in building the new neighborhood of Ahuzat Bayit, which would later become known as Tel Aviv.
Jaffa, on the southern outskirts of Tel Aviv, is thought to be one of the oldest cities in the world. Unlike Tel Aviv, there is a strong Arab presence in Jaffa, where Israeli Arabs make up approximately one quarter of the population. The city's Ajami neighborhood, home to many of Jaffa's Arab residents, was the focus for the 2009 Oscar nominated movie of the same name.
The Tel Aviv-Jaffa City Hall is located in Rabin Square, named for slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated there in 1995. In 2008, former Israel Air Force pilot Ron Huldai was reelected as mayor, having held the position since 1998.
While many north and center Tel Aviv neighborhoods are considered upscale, the city’s southern neighborhoods have higher crime and poverty rates. The municipality has also been criticized for not controlling the booming real estate prices, as many of the city’s residents and young families have been priced out of the market. The city is ranked the 17th most expensive in the world.
Regardless, Tel Aviv still attracts a large portion of young professionals, who are willing to endure the high cost of living in return for the excitement and opportunities offered by the city.
