In 2018, before the previous local elections, the "Free Israel" urban freedom index was launched, which was designed to measure the situation in the 31 main cities in Israel.
In honor of the sixth year of the index and the conclusion of the five-year term of the councils and the mayors and in preparation for the local elections, the association 'Free Israel' presents the summary of the main trends that have occurred in the last five years: which cities were at the top then and which today?
Which cities are uncompromisingly at the top of the table every year?
Who are the big courses and who are the climbers?
These are the ten heads of authorities who brought about the greatest change in the freest cities in Israel:
in first place - Ran Konik Givatayim, Amir Kochavi Hod Hasharon
Ron Huldai - Tel Aviv Jaffa
Moshe Padlon
- Herzliya Haim Bibbs - Modi'in - Maccabim - Reot
Carmel Shama HaCohen - Ramat Gan
Rafi Sa'ar - Kfar Saba
Motti Sasson - Holon
Eli Lankri - Eilat
Raz Kinstlich - Rishon Lezion
Carmel Shama HaCohen, Mayor of Ramat Gan next to the Shabbat Sababus/Ramat Gan Municipality bus
The leading cities
Five years ago, when Modiin was first, Tel Aviv was second, followed by Haifa, and the opening five were rounded out by Herzliya and Holon.
Now, in the month of the elections for the local authorities, two of the cities that joined us in the middle-of-the-road index go to first place: Givatayim and Hod Hasharon.
While Givatayim went straight into first place upon joining the index, and has since deteriorated to second place at most, Hod Hasharon made an impressive jump from ninth place to a lead for two years in a row.
Tel Aviv, which breathed the air of Psagot in 2019-2020, has since been content with the silver and bronze medals.
Mayors in the project Naim on the weekend/official website, photo: Naim on the weekend
The freest cities in Israel/image processing, image processing
The three cities with the biggest improvement
The most notable changes for the better in Ramat Gan
: the improvement of public transportation on Shabbat - the municipality has started operating "Sevbus"
the most notable changes for the better in Hod Hasharon
: the improvement of public transportation on Shabbat - joining the service "Na'im in the weekend", opening the possibility of civil burials in the city, registration of civil marriages.
The changes that stand out for the better in Kfar Saba:
joining the "Naim Be Sufesh" service for public transportation on Shabbat, supporting gay organizations, establishing the Gay House, and improving religious pluralism, allocating resources to conservative communities, holding events in collaboration with non-Orthodox communities, holding events in honor of the New God.
The cities at the bottom of the free cities ranking/official website, image processing
The three cities with the biggest decline
The main reasons for the gap in Haifa: Deterioration in the category of religious budgets: in the last two years, it stopped publishing a municipal budget, despite repeated requests on our part, and deterioration in the category of civil marriages (municipal couple registration): approved by the council in 2021, but never implemented.
The main reasons for the gap in Jerusalem: Deterioration in the category of public transportation on Shabbat: cessation of "Shabus" service activity and deterioration in the category of religious budgets: the religious budget in Jerusalem has increased.
The main reasons for the disparity in Be'er Sheva: Deterioration in the category of public transportation on Shabbat: cessation of cooperative transportation activity "Yambus" and deterioration in the category of religious budgets: Be'er Sheva's religious budget increased.
Uri Kider, CEO of Free Israel
: "Ahead of the local elections, it is very important to know that elected officials and elected officials in every city will shape our lives in the next five years, and none of us must give up the right to vote.
There are elected officials who have done an excellent job in promoting liberal policies and there are cities that have, at best, stepped in place and sometimes even gone backwards.
Each and every voter must look at what the elected officials have done in the last five years and support only those who represent the interests and the liberal worldview that we would like to see in every city."
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Public transportation on Saturday