The mayor of Kiryat Shmona announced that he would fight the decision of the Upper Galilee Regional Council to charge a fee in the parking lot next to the river • "The streams belong to all of us and not just to the council"
Bathing in Jordan
Photo:
Eyal Margolin, Ginny - Archive
After the struggle over the Hasi River, the Jordan River is now at the center of a conflict.
The mayor of Kiryat Shmona, Avichai Stern, referred to the announcement by the Upper Galilee Regional Council in recent days that starting with the Passover holiday, payment will be charged in the parking lot next to the Jordan River, except for the council's residents.
A statement issued by Stern today (Thursday) stated that the Kiryat Shmona municipality "will fight and act against any attempt to restrict access to streams, whether by collecting parking, and in any other way. A warning letter was sent from the municipality this morning, before legal proceedings."
Mayor Stern added: "The streams in the Galilee are in the public domain and not only the regional council. We will not agree that the regional council will restrict access to the streams and we will not agree to restrict the residents of Kiryat Shmona as done in Kibbutz Nir David. "One could expect a bit of patience on the part of the regional council. I am afraid that Kibbutz Nir David's restrictions on access to the streams could create unnecessary tensions. I call on the residents to go out into nature. The streams belong to all of us."
The Upper Galilee Regional Council stated: "The council sees great importance in making the streams in its territory accessible to all the people of Israel and invests many resources in cleaning, supervision, maintenance and infrastructure, including arranging access by car and on foot, accessing the disabled, arranging parking, placing toilets and trash cans, gardening and more. This is done by the council from its current budget, without any support from the state and the authorities in the area.
"In order to preserve the streams and other open areas, to regulate and make their stay pleasant, the council has enacted bylaws regarding noise, lighting fires, a series of day and night parking lots, a ban on the use of disposable utensils and more. Thanks to the council's activities over the years, 240 km The banks of streams in its territory are open, accessible and allow all the people of Israel to come and enjoy the outdoors.
"Like the shores of the Sea of Galilee, the sea and parks all over the country, the purpose of paid parking in a limited number of established parking lots (along one kilometer of 240 km of river banks in the council areas), is to regulate recreation on the riverbank and ensure a safe, clean and pleasant stay.
We invite all the people of Israel to come and enjoy the best, most beautiful and delicious in the Upper Galilee. "
