Skip to main content

Israel kicks party business off beaches

An Israeli court has ruled in favor of protecting Israel’s beaches from commercial use such as keeping tents and other equipment on them.
People visit a beach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Ashkelon, as restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ease around Israel, May 16, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC2RPG9LGFQZ

Israel's the High Court has rejected a petition submitted by the owners of a company that supplies beach parties in the Carmel region. The petitioners asked the court to protect them against municipal inspectors who kept fining them for keeping their equipment near the sea. The petitioners claimed that they only set up tents and other moveable items, none of which are permanent and prevent the public from enjoying the environment. They argued that the beaches where they were operating were never declared by the Carmel Regional Council as official bathing spots.

Rejecting these arguments, the court ruled June 15 that the beach was in principle a public resource, and as such, no commercial activity should take place there without authorization. No businesses may infringe on the public's right to enjoy the beaches, and there must be no activity that generates vehicle traffic bringing in equipment and certainly nothing that generates significant sound or light or produces more trash than general public usage.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.