Green Course launches campaign against Lake Kinneret fences
Environmental student group seeks to secure 'right of public to free access' to SeLake Kinneret beaches.
By Eli Ashkenazi and Haaretz CorrespondentThe environmental student group Green Course on Monday launched a protest and public awareness campaign supporting what they call "the right of the public to enter Lake Kinneret [beaches] free of charge."
The organization's activists tried to sneak into pay beaches Monday, and on Tuesay tore down the fences around several beaches.
Roughly 30 Green Course activists arrived at Lake Kinneret to participate in the protest activities, saying "several months after the National Council for Planning and Construction approved the opening of the Lake Kinneret loop trail, there are still 122 illegal fences on its shores that block free movement along the trail."
"We've coming to the Lake Kinneret to remind the government and interior minister that free access to the beaches is one of the rights of the public by law," said Eli Assa, Green Course's Lake Kinneret activity coordinator. "The interior minister must enforce the law and the decision of the National Council for Planning and Construction and remove the illegal fences."
"The removal of the fences at the Sea of Galilee must be accompanied by budgetary allocations to the local authorities for ongoing maintenance of Lake Kinneret," said Green Course Director-General Gil Yaacov said.
In addition, the group's members are undertaking a public awareness campaign to reach out to bathers at the Lake Kinneret, as well as assisting the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel in blazing the trail.
A procession will take place Wednesday on the newest portion of the trail, between Hokuk and Dekel beaches near Tiberias.
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Our natural resourses belong to all Jews, not some!
All up and down the coast there were restaurants where you could go and have a middle eastern meal and watch the sea. Netanya, Mikhmoret, Caesarea all had places you could relax in on the beach. Why are they all closed down? What happened to them? Is there any way of getting them back?
Don't forget that cash-strapped municipal governments, regional planning offices, and the lands authority in many cases SOLD the rights to close off the beach to private developers. The gov't then feigns shock at the consequences. No one objected to the developers when they were paying taxes, building improvement fees, and rent for these lands. The Dolphinarium beach complex was sold by the government to a private developer. He's now demanding market value to sell it back. The government is to blame in these cases.
Good for the protestors, what right do these greedy entrepeneurs have to fence off beaches for their own benefits. However the biggest culprit is the Interior ministry for allowing this in the first place. So tear down the fences and give the kinneret back to the people.
Who owns the ocean? Or the air we breath? Who owns space above our heads? Answer - NO ONE! I suggest the people fight to push for FREE ACCESS to the beaches! And then they should turn around and sue the people who tried to charge visitors fees to access the beach. What arrogance corporations, hotels and people have to assume they alone can decide who can enjoy nature.
Well done...the grabbing of beaches/kinneret shores all over Israel is a bloody outrage. I am sure Maureen Ann would say that it is yet another display of just how terrible Israeilis are as opposed to the wonders of Islam. But, seriously, what is going on...why have beaches on Kinneret and on coast become the reserves of the rich so that they can ride in their jeeps, pollute water on their waterbikes and generally display the Israeli nouveau riche I have a a mobile phone everywhere I go mentality. Why do kids need to be brought to the waters edge in jeeps that block the view of the sea for everyone else...and who the hell want the facilities that the "owners" of the beaches supposedly offer. I would settle for free entry, no jeeps, and less fancy pubs. Even if the jeep and moblie phone crowd wants someone to wipe their bum in public so that we all know how superdooper rich they are - some of us just want the sea, sun and a picnic basket. Well done greenies..wish there were more of u
on west there is a lot of "concrete" where people cannot cross beaches because are private.But, on east, side of Ein Gev is very quiet.Many israelis arabs from Nazareth come on this side with their families.We call this side "the tolerant side".
Kol Hakavod!
Next thing we know, someone will try to charge us for the air we breath - it's time to take action against thieves - those who steal from the public.
In 1986 I went to Tiberias and stayed at a cheap hostel on the edge of the sea. The provisions were minimal but it was a marvellous place to stay.As a young man it was all I could afford. I recently returned to Tiberias and was horrified to see that the entire waterfront is now barricaded. I would no longer be able to afford to stay there, even though I am now earning a full income. I entirely support the students' protests. It greatly saddened me to see that the experience I so enjoyed is now the reserve of the rich.