Kinneret resort to offer public beach access

District court approves compromise that will allow for public access to the beach and surrounding nature spots.

By SHARON UDASIN
Kinneret at sunset 311 (photo credit: Joe Yudin)
Kinneret at sunset 311
(photo credit: Joe Yudin)
A compromise was approved by a district court last Thursday between Adam Teva V’Din – Israel Union for Environmental Defense and vacation village developers, that will allow for guaranteed public access to the beaches and infrastructure developed at a Kinneret beach on the Golan Heights, both sides confirmed on Tuesday.
Along with local residents, Adam Teva V’Din had filed a petition arguing that the Kursi resort project should not be allowed to go forward without public access to the beach and open areas.
The parties eventually reached a compromise, allowing for the continued construction of the village, but with an officially mandated agreement that will allow for public access to the beach and surrounding nature spots. In addition, the developers will be responsible for building a public parking lot and a promenade that connects with the existing path that surrounds Lake Kinneret, according to Adam Teva V’Din.
“The agreement and ruling that were issued following the petition are important achievements that will ensure the public’s access to the beach and open areas, for the benefit of the widespread public,” Adam Teva V’Din executive director Amit Bracha said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the court could not correct the big mistake that the Israel Lands Authority made when it marketed the land for building a vacation village. We call upon the CEO of the ILA, who demonstrated his sensitivity in protecting beaches in Israel, to immediately cancel the building of unnecessary vacation villages on Kinneret beaches that would be regretted for generations.”
Bracha was referring specifically to a recent decent by ILA CEO Benzi Lieberman to nix plans to construct a similar resort on Betzet Beach on the Mediterranean.
Kursi is one of the most special beaches on the Kinneret, according to Adam Teva V’Din, because it is located at the delta of a stream and contains various types of mammals, birds and vegetation, while also remaining quite popular for kite-surfing.
Eyal T. Sharon, an attorney from Agmon & Co., representing the developers, Hotel Orchid, said that the project will bring important economic leverage to an unemployment- stricken region, as well as create a tourist attraction, according to a statement from the law firm.
“The compromise agreement reached will allow for the development of a tourism project that will improve the quality and quantity of infrastructure in the region, will improve the public’s access to natural sites and will increase the rate of employment, the standard of living and the supply of centers of tourism, recreation, leisure and more,” Sharon said.