Netanya

Netanya נְתַנְיָה‎ نتانيا‎
Hebrew transcription(s)
• ISO 259	Netanya
View of South Netanya from Poleg neighbourhood
Flag Coat of Arms
Netanya Location within Israel
Coordinates: 32°20′0″N 34°51′0″E / 32.33333°N 34.85000°E / 32.33333; 34.85000Coordinates: 32°20′0″N 34°51′0″E / 32.33333°N 34.85000°E / 32.33333; 34.85000
Country	Israel
District	Central
Founded	February 18, 1929
Government
• Type	City
• Mayor	Miriam Feirberg Ikar
Area
• Total	28,455 dunams (28.455 km2 or 10.987 sq mi)
Population (2014)
• Total	202,428
Name meaning	Gift of God

Gan Hamelech, 1940

Netanya (Hebrew: נְתַנְיָה, lit., "gift of God"; Arabic: نتانيا‎) is a city in the Northern Central District of Israel, and is the capital of the surrounding Sharon plain. It is 30 km (18.64 mi) north of Tel Aviv, and 56 km (34.80 mi) south of Haifa, between the 'Poleg' stream and Wingate Institute in the south and the 'Avichail' stream in the north. Netanya was named in honor of Nathan Straus, a prominent Jewish American merchant and philanthropist in the early 20th century.

Its 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) of beaches have made the city a popular tourist resort. In addition, the city is known for its large immigrant population. A significant percentage of the city's population consists of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, France, and Ethiopia, and the city is home to a notably large population of English-speaking immigrants from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), at the end of 2014 the city had a total population of 202,428.^[1] An additional 150,000 people live in the local and regional councils within 10 kilometres (6 miles) of Netanya which serves as a regional center for them. The city mayor is Miriam Feirberg. The city is expected to reach a population of 350,000 by 2020.^[2]

History

The old Sycamore tree in Netanya

The idea to create the settlement of Netanya was drawn up at a meeting of the Bnei Binyamin association in Zikhron Ya'akov.^[3] The location was decided upon near the ancient site of Poleg, and it was decided to name it in honor of Nathan (Hebrew: Natan) Straus (1848–1931),^[4][5] co-owner of Macy's department store,^[6] New York City Parks Commissioner, and president of the New York City Board of Health,^[7] who gifted two-thirds of his personal fortune to projects benefiting Jews and Arabs in Palestine.^[5][7][8] "Netanya...was named for Straus in the hope he would donate money to them. When he told them he had no more money to give they were disappointed, but decided to keep the city's name anyway."^[9] In 1928 members of Bnei Binyamin and Hanote, an organisation set up after Straus was informed of the establishment of the settlement, are said to have purchased 350 acres (1.4 km²) of Umm Khaled lands.^[3] There remains today, however, considerable controversy among Palestinian and Israeli interpretation about whether land was sold (primarily from non-resident Arab land holders) during the British Mandate.

On December 14, 1928 a team led by Moshe Shaked began digging for water at the site, finding it in February 1929. Subsequently, on February 18, 1929, the first five settlers moved onto the land, plowing and cultivating it for the first time. In the weeks that followed, more settlers began arriving. The land was divided between the settlers in June 1929 as slowly the vision of the settlement became reality. Development was set back, however when the 1929 Palestine riots and massacre of Jews caused the settlement to be abandoned for a couple of weeks. By September, however, development was back on track with the cornerstones for the first 10 houses being laid on Sukkot.^[3]

Netanya, early 1930s

In the following years, Netanya continued to grow, with the first kindergarten and shop opening in 1930, and the first school in 1931, by which time there were 100 settlers. In 1933, the British architect Cliff Holliday proposed a plan for Netanya to become a tourist city. Holliday also prepared urban projects in Jaffa, Tiberias, Lydda and Ramla.^[10] The first urban plan for the city, saw it being divided into three sections with a tourism district along the coastline, housing, farms and commerce in the center, and agriculture and industry to the east. 1933 also saw the completion of the Tel-Aviv Hotel, the first hotel in the city, as well as the establishment of two new neighborhoods, Ben Zion and Geva.^[3]

The moshava as it then was continued to grow in 1934, when the first ship of illegal immigrants carried 350 to Netanya's shoreline. These operations continued until 1939, with over seventeen ships landing near the city, being aided by the residents of Netanya. Whilst flourishing agriculturally, 1934 also saw the city diversify with Primazon opening the first factory there, producing fruit and vegetable preserves. Following this, the first industrial zone was set up, whilst the Shone Halahot Synagogue was built and the Bialik School, the first school, inaugurated.^[3]

As the settlement continued to grow, 1937 saw the cornerstone was laid for a new commercial center, the establishment of the Ein HaTchelet neighborhood, and the connection of Netanya to the Tel Aviv to Haifa road. In 1940, the British Mandate government defined Netanya as a local council of which Oved Ben-Ami was elected head of.^[3] Expansion continued after this point, with the settlement of Neve Itamar created near Netanya in 1944, later becoming a neighborhood, and the first high school opening in 1945.^[3]

State of Israel

Shaked promenade, Netanya

In November 1947, an Egged bus which left Netanya for Jerusalem was attacked in Petah Tikva. In 1948, following the withdrawal of British forces from Netanya and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, a large military base was established in the city. When fighting calmed down, Netanya was designated, on December 3, 1948 a city, the first city to be designated in the newly established State of Israel. At this time, the city had 9,000 residents.^[3]

Netanya suffered from several Palestinian bombings during the Second Intifada, including the Netanya Market bombing and, in the same month, the Passover massacre which caused the death of 29 people.^[11] Such attacks were cited as justification for the construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier which has proved effective in stemming suicide attacks.^[12]

Demographics

As of 2014, Netanya was home to 202,428 people.^[1] The population density of the city is 7,115 per square kilometer.^[13] According to a 2001 survey by the CBS, 99.9% of the population are Jewish and other non-Arabs. In 2001 alone, the city became home to 1,546 immigrants. According to CBS, in 2001 there were 78,800 males and 84,900 females with the population of the city being spread out with 31.1% 19 years of age or younger, 15.3% between 20 and 29, 17.2% between 30 and 44, 17.4% from 45 to 59, 4.2% from 60 to 64, and 14.9% 65 years of age or older.

In terms of the origin of Netanya's residents, 63,800 originate from Europe and America, 30,200 from North Africa, 18,100 from Asia, 10,500 from Ethiopia and 38,100 from Israel.^[14] 90,200 of the residents of Netanya were born in Israel, whilst 71,300 were born abroad.^[14] A significant number of Ethiopian Jews in Israel have settled in Netanya with over 10,500 Ethiopian Jewish residents in the city.^[15] Netanya is also the center of the Persian Jewish community of Israel.

As of 2000, the city had 58,897 salaried workers and 4,671 self-employed with the mean monthly wage in 2000 for a salaried worker in the city being NIS 4,905, a real change of 8.6% over the course of 2000. Salaried males have a mean monthly wage of NIS 6,217 (a real change of 9.0%) versus NIS 3,603 for females (a real change of 6.8%). The mean income for the self-employed is 6,379. There are 3,293 people who receive unemployment benefits and 14,963 people who receive an income guarantee.

In terms of religion, Netanya is made up approximately of 50% secular Jews. It is also the home of the Sanzer Hasidic dynasty, as well as a large Chabad Lubavitch presence.

Economy

Krauze pedestrian mall

Northern shore

Industry in Netanya is largely divided between four industrial parks. In the south of the city, the newest of these, Poleg, houses the first branch of IKEA in Israel as well as many technology companies, such as LogiTag. Tourism also plays a fairly major part in Netanya's economy with some 19 hotels in the city having 1,452 rooms. On average, this creates some 589 jobs. The hotels had an average occupancy rate of 51.7% in 2006. Netanya's long seashore and many beaches have created a holiday industry, which in turn features resort hotels, restaurants, and malls.

Geography

Netanya is located on the Israeli Mediterranean Coastal Plain, the historic land bridge between Europe, Africa, and Asia. The city is the capital of the Sharon plain, a geographic region stretching from the Mediterranean in the west to the Samarian hills in the east, and the modern day Tel Aviv metropolitan area in the south northwards to Mount Carmel. Although capital of a densely populated region, Netanya itself is relatively separate from settlements to the north, south, and east, though over time, growth has incorporated some into what makes up modern day Netanya.

Iris nature reserve

Apart from some small moshavim and kibbutzim, south of Netanya is relatively clear of settlement until Herzliya and the start of the Gush Dan, Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area. Likewise, to the north is clear of large settlement until Hadera, and the east until Tulkarm in the West Bank. The area to the east of Netanya does, however, have a large concentration of kibbutzim and moshavim in the Hefer Valley Regional Council and local councils of Kfar Yona and Even Yehuda.

Netanya itself is divided into a large number of neighborhoods (see Neighborhoods of Netanya), recently growing southwards out of the city to create a number of high-end coastal neighborhoods with industrial areas inland. Netanya is home to the Poleg nature reserve and the Irises Dora Rainpool nature park containing the world's largest population of iris atropurpurea. At the center of the park is a rainpool which fills up with water in the winter months, and dries up over the summer months. Signs along the rainpool include information on the types of flora and fauna which populate the ecosystem.

Neighborhoods

Laniado Hospital maternity wing.

Kiryat Sanz

In 1956 a beachfront in northern Netanya was selected as the home base for the Sanzer Hasidim by its leader, Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam. Halberstam established kindergartens, boys' and girls' schools, yeshivas, seminaries, synagogues, a children's home for orphaned and needy girls,^[16] an old-age home, and a hospital. In addition to religious services, the new settlement had a diamond polishing factory built by a New York diamond merchant.^[17] Halberstam established his court here in 1960.^[18] Following his death in 1994, his eldest son, Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Halberstam, known as the Sanzer Rebbe, has been the spiritual leader of the Sanz community in Israel.^[19] Today Kiryat Sanz has a population of approximately 1000 families.^[20] Most of the older generation are Holocaust survivors.^[21] Besides its educational facilities for boys and girls from elementary to post-graduate,^[22] it has five synagogues, a mikveh, a printing house,^[23] a religious hotel, a religious nursing school, and the Laniado Hospital,^[20] which encompasses two medical centers, a children's hospital, a geriatric center and a nursing school, serving a regional population of over 450,000.^[24]

Transportation

Public transportation

Sea Opera, Netanya's former tallest building.

The public transportation in Netanya is based on buses, railway and service taxis.

The Netanya Railway Station is located near the city center, on the east side of Highway 2. Another station is located in the nearby moshav of Bet Yehoshua and is convenient for getting to southern Netanya and to the Poleg Industrial Area. Both stations are connected to the city by Egged bus service, although Shay Li service taxis are highly predominant at the Beit Yehoshua Railway Station.^[25] There are direct trains from both stations to Tel Aviv, Binyamina, Hadera, Herzliya, Lod, Rehovot, Ashdod, Ashkelon and other towns. All Israel Railways stations, including Ben Gurion Airport, can be accessed from Netanya by means of transfer stations such as Binyamina and Tel Aviv.^[26]

Egged buses run from the Netanya central bus station to Jerusalem, Haifa, Eilat and other destinations. Many neighborhoods have a direct connection to Tel Aviv without the need to pass through the central bus station. In addition, many Egged lines connecting Tel Aviv with the north of the country stop at the Netanya Interchange on Highway 2, giving Netanya a direct connection with Nazareth, Tiberias, Kiryat Shmona and many other northern destinations. Nateev Express operates bus services to Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak and to the surrounding communities, including the city of Hadera. Some regional lines are still operated by Egged. The intracity transportation is based on Egged Ta'avura bus lines and Shay Li service taxis.^[25]

Culture

Victory Monument in Netanya

As a tourist destination and large city, Netanya features a number of museums and galleries. The Well House is a museum telling the early history of Netanya located in a farm established in 1928, and as such one of the earliest buildings in Netanya. Also in the city are the Tribes of Israel Pearl museum of Yemenite Jewish Heritage, the Shlomo Dror Art Institute, and the Diamimon diamond museum. Furthermore, the Cliff Gallery, Gosher Gallery, Abecassis Gallery and Fourth Gallery are all located in the city.^[27]

Netanya is also home to many war memorials such as the Holocaust Train Car,^[28] Beit Yad Lebanim – the memorial to fallen IDF soldiers from Netanya, the National Memorial for Fallen Ordnance Corps, the Alexandroni Brigade Memorial, the National Victory Monument – dedicated to the Russian Red Army victory over Nazi Germany and the Memorial to Victims of Acts of Terror.^[29]

Education

According to the Netanya Municipality, the city has 36,544 students including 5,351 pupils in 186 kindergartens, 16,748 in 46 elementary schools, and 14,445 in 16 high schools. Education in the city is controlled by the municipality's Education Administration.^[30] 52.7% of 12th grade students were entitled to a matriculation certificate in 2001.

In terms of higher education, Netanya has a private higher education institution, Netanya Academic College, which offers Bachelor's and master's degrees in several subjects as well as the Ort Hermelin College of Engineering, the Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Lesley College, and The Tesler School for Nursing.^[31] Furthermore, the Wingate Institute, Israel's National Centre for Physical Education and Sport, is located just south of the city.

Sports

Netanya's Stadium and the Golden Ball sculpture

The main stadiums in Netanya are the 13,800-seat Netanya Stadium. Netanya has three football teams, the main being Maccabi Netanya, whose main local rival is Beitar Nes Tubruk. The third is Maccabi HaSharon Netanya, though the team has been limited to fourth tier football in the Liga Bet. Elitzur Netanya represents the city in the first tier of Israeli basketball. In handball, the city is represented by Hapoel Netanya in the 2nd tier of the Israeli handball. In baseball, the city was represented by the Netanya Tigers of the Israel Baseball League. As part of "Netanya – city of sport" program the beach soccer stadium was established and it currently hosts Israeli championship and international "Diamond tournament" games.

Aside from the professional sport teams, Maccabi Netanya also has a boxing and fencing club while Hapoel Netanya has judo and gymnastic clubs.

The founder of Krav Maga, Imi Lichtenfeld opened a sports academy in Netanya for the continuation of his way and his martial art.^[32]

Netanya is also the home of paragliding in Israel. The moderate cliffs plus a stiff offshore breeze provide an ideal environment for safe and fun comfortable paragliding. Gliders are often seen cruising high above the beach, just along the cliff line.

Netanya will host the 2015 European Short Course Swimming Championships in December. The venue of the event is going to be the brand new swimming complex of the Wingate Institute. The new complex at the Wingate Institute features an Olympic-size pool with 10 lanes and 3m depth, backed by the latest built-in filtration systems, an 8-lane 50m pool and a 6-lane 25m pool.^[33][34]

Urban development

Beach promenade

The city currently has a modest but growing skyline, with several of the tallest buildings in Israel located there. In 2011, it was announced that eight new skyscrapers, six of them over 30 stories, would be built in the city. It was also reported that in the coming years, the city's skyline will alter as dozens of 40–42-story skyscrapers will be built, many of them along the shore.^[35][36]

Currently, there are plans to make Netanya a major tourist hub, both to Israelis and European tourists, by turning the city's coastline into an "Israeli Riviera", with multiple development projects planned for the city's shore.^[37] Among the projects planned is to clear a landfill containing 2.5 million cubic meters of waste, and redevelop the area into a residential and hotel area of 2,062 housing units and 1,100 hotel rooms, while most of the area will be left as open space, as part of the city's goal to go from 56 to 70 percent open space. The plan is expected to attract more residents to the city, expand hotel development, and increase the iris reserve areas, as well as the number of gardens, and green spaces.^[38]

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Netanya is twinned with:^[39]

Notable residents

Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam

• Linor Abargil, Miss Israel World 1998, Miss World 1998
• Yityish Titi Aynaw, Miss Israel 2013
• Yehuda Barkan, actor and filmmaker
• Edith Hahn Beer, Austrian Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust by hiding her Jewish identity and marrying a Nazi officer
• Cheryl Bentov, American real estate agent and former Israeli Mossad agent
• Noah Brosch, astronomer, astrophysicist and space researcher
• Yonatan "Yoni" Chetboun, member of the Knesset
• Jacko Eisenberg, singer
• Eli Finish, actor and comedian
• Yarden Gerbi, world champion judoka
• Moshe Glam, football player
• Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam, Klausenburger Rebbe
• Zvi Elimelech Halberstam, Sanzer Rebbe
• Aluf Yitzhak "Haki" Harel, CEO of Israel Railways and former Major General in the Israel Defense Forces
• Mariano Idelman, actor and comedian
• Baruch Kimmerling, scholar and professor of sociology
• Moti Kirschenbaum, television presenter and filmmaker
• Dr. Aliza Lavie, academic and politician
• Ronny Levy, football manager
• Imi Lichtenfeld, martial artist, founded Krav Maga
• Haim Gidon, martial artist
• Nili Lotan, Israeli-American fashion designer
• Oded Machnes, football player
• Sagi Muki, reigning European judo champion
• Or Sasson, judoka
• Yaniv Rokah, actor-director
• Stav Shaffir, activist, journalist, and politician
• Mairav "Mae" Shamir, Israeli-American professional and Israeli team soccer goalkeeper
• Arik Shivek, basketball coach
• Mordechai Spiegler, football player
• Daniel Spivak, professional ice hockey player
• Shiraz Tal, model
• Margalit Tzan'ani, singer
• Avi Weinroth, lawyer and lecturer
• Meir Wieseltier, poet
• Ehud Yatom, Shin Bet agent and Israeli Knesset member
• Ron Yosef (b. 1974), openly gay Orthodox Jewish rabbi
• Shalom Tikva, football player
• Nadav Guedj, Israeli 2015 Eurovision Song Contest Entrant
• Avi Tikva, football player

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Netanya.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Netanya.

• Official website (Hebrew)
• Official website
• Things to do in Netanya
• Places To Visit in Netanya
• Official tourism website
• Other info in french
• Tourism site
• Surfing in Netanya
• Tandem Paragliding Netanya

Central District of Israel Cities El'ad Giv'at Shmuel Hod HaSharon Kafr Qasim Kfar Saba Kfar Yona Lod Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut Ness Ziona Netanya Petah Tikva Qalansawe Ra'anana Ramla Rehovot Rishon LeZion Rosh HaAyin Tayibe Tira Yavne Yehud-Monosson Local councils Be'er Ya'akov Beit Dagan Bnei Ayish Elyakhin Even Yehuda Gan Yavne Ganei Tikva Gedera Jaljulia Kafr Bara Kiryat Ekron Kokhav Ya'ir Mazkeret Batya Pardesiya Savyon Shoham Tel Mond Tzoran-Kadima Zemer Regional councils Brenner Gan Raveh Gederot Gezer Drom HaSharon Hefer Valley Hevel Modi'in Hevel Yavne Hof HaSharon Lev HaSharon Lod Valley Nahal Sorek Boroughs Neve Monosson Maccabim-Re'ut See also Gush Dan Sharon plain Other sub-divisions: Haifa District Jerusalem District Judea and Samaria Area Northern District Southern District Tel Aviv District