A bill to extend the Coastline Protection Law to cover the Eilat beaches will be sent to the Knesset next week for its second and third readings. At the same time MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) plans to submit to the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee a bill to extend the law to cover the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) beaches as well.
If the Knesset passes the two bills, there will be a single comprehensive law whose paramount importance will be to open all beaches to public access. Just as important, no construction will be allowed within 300 meters of the water line, and any building application will have to be submitted to the Coastline Protection Committee, whose representatives include environmental groups.
Khenin said that his bill proposes a 50-meter zone from the Kinneret waterline where no construction will be permitted. This is necessary because of the great sensitivity of the lake, which is Israel’s largest source of fresh water, providing most of the drinking water for Israel’s population. The bill will grant the Coastline Protection Committee the authority over the remaining area.
Khenin’s bill will also eliminate the more than 100 fences built along the Kinneret over the years, which prevent access to the water. The Coastline Protection Law bans payment for entering bathing areas, but allows charges for parking in some areas, provided that there is foot access to the beach.
Finally, the bill will transfer beach maintenance to the government.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on October 1, 2007
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007