Despite Minister of the Interior Aryeh Deri's decision to make key Israeli beaches open to all free of charge, a check by Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) revealed that entry fees are still being charged.
Deri's decision, trumpeted as lowering the cost of living, concerned Zuk beach on the border of Herzliya and Tel Aviv, a beach with separate bathing for men and women in Tiberias, Achziv beach, and Zikim and Nitzanim beaches near Ashkelon. Deri also promised that these beaches would be given NIS 7 million in compensation for their lost income.
More than a month after the decision, NIS 30 is being charged for entry to Nitzanim and Zikim beaches with a vehicle. Entry is free only to those living in the jurisdiction of the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and those arriving at the beaches on foot. Since no buses stop at these beaches, they can be reached only by car.
In response to the Army Radio report, the Ministry of the Interior said the beaches were charging parking fees, not entrance fees, and added that the legality of the parking fees was being checked.
The Hof Ashkelon Regional Council said in response that no mechanism or undertaking for the compensation promised by Deri had yet been implemented for the beaches.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 26, 2016
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