Rare Gilboa Iris prevents approval of new village

The struggle against the establishment of the Michal communal village became a symbol for the preservation of nature in Israel.

The National Planning and Building Council has rejected a plan for the construction of a new communal village, Michal, on Mt. Gilboa in the lower Galilee, where the rare Gilboa Iris grows. In recent years, the struggle against the establishment of Michal became a symbol for the preservation of nature in Israel.

The Beit Shean Valley Regional Council initiated plans for Michal, which was designed as an ecological village. When the plan for Michal was deposited for public comment in March 2005, 700 objections were filed against it by environmental organizations and local residents. As a result of large number of objections, the National Planning Board appointed an investigator, who concluded that Michal should not be built.

The opponents argued that no new community should be built, however ecologically friendly it purported to be, precisely in the only place on earth where the protected Gilboa Iris grows. The opponents also argued that a new communal village in the area would harm existing communities, including Maale Gilboa, Nurit, and the Malkishua Drug Rehabilitation Center. The Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority initially supported the establishment of Michal as a way to protect other parts of Mt. Gilboa. However, it changed its mind after conducting a survey of irises in the area.

The National Planning Board rejected the Michal plan in a 10:5 vote.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on September 5, 2006

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2006

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