Final: Mikveh Israel will be opened to the public, the first passages will open within two years

The Subcommittee for Appeals of the National Planning and Building Council has rejected the four appeals filed against the new master plan for Mikveh Israel, which was approved by the District Commission in September 2024. The subcommittee determined that the plan properly balances the continued operation of Mikveh Israel as an agricultural school, the safety of the students, and the preservation of the complex, with its gradual opening for pedestrian and bicycle passage. The decision was reached unanimously.

This is the highest and final planning authority, and following its decision, the master plan is expected to take effect. The Subcommittee for Appeals approved the outline established by the District Commission, according to which the first phase will be carried out within two years, during which there will be a passage from the western entrance on Levi Eshkol Street in Holon, through the Ficus area and the Washingtonia avenue to the north, and from there along Highway 44 to the connection with Ariel Sharon Park.

The second phase, after five years, is the opening of a passage from the southern entrance, along a route bypassing the historical core from the east. The third phase, to be carried out seven years after the plan takes effect, includes opening an entrance from the east through the botanical garden to the heart of the village, as far as possible without harming the school's activities and student safety. The District Commission retains the option to change the order of the phases or extend the implementation deadlines.

The commission rejected the demand of the Holon Municipality and the residents to open larger areas, including the historical core, groves, and open spaces, because the central purpose of the Mikveh Israel Law is to protect the school's activities and prevent its lands from becoming a public park. The argument of Mikveh Israel that the public should not be allowed passage that is not accompanied by educational activity was also rejected. The commission determined that limited public passage on roads that also serve the school does not contradict the law.

The commission did not mandate the construction of fences along the passage routes. The need for fencing will be examined when permits are granted, and the fences will need to integrate into the landscape and existing construction. The commission also determined that fencing the historical core would create an artificial separation and therefore should not be mandatory. Regarding the routes already approved, the provision remains that the public will be able to pass mainly during times when the school is not active. The commission did not set an obligation to open them 24 hours a day or at least one-third of the days of the year. It only encouraged Mikveh Israel and the authorities to reach agreements that would expand the opening hours.