"They will not take our beach from us": The struggle against the separate beach relocation in northern Tel Aviv
The Tel Aviv Municipality's plan to relocate the separate beach from Nordau to a strip north of HaTzuk beach, near the Herzliya border, has sparked widespread public opposition. Residents fear the loss of open coastline and warn of increased congestion. The municipality maintains that the move is intended to improve public access to the central coastline rather than create an additional separate beach.
A new wave of protest has been growing in recent weeks around one of the most sought-after coastlines in northern Tel Aviv. At the center of the controversy is a plan to relocate the separate beach currently operating in Nordau to a coastal strip north of the northern HaTzuk beach, near the border with Herzliya. Residents of the area and nearby Sharon cities have organized under the banner "Keep HaTzuk beach open to everyone," holding demonstrations and establishing a "HaTzuk Beach - The Struggle" headquarters on social media. Organizers insist that their campaign is only just beginning.
Currently, Tel Aviv's separate bathing beach operates in the Nordau area, serving as the city's only facility for religious and Haredi bathers, with designated days for men and women. The municipality has been considering relocating this facility further north, arguing that the move would allow the Nordau coastline to be opened to the general public, the separation wall to be removed, and the continuity of the urban promenade to be restored.
The municipality emphasizes that the declared northern HaTzuk beach itself is not intended to become a separate beach. The location under consideration is further north, on a strip adjacent to the municipal border with Herzliya, which already hosts a separate beach. However, this explanation has failed to satisfy critics. Local resident Yoav argues that the municipality's narrative is misleading, as the practical outcome would be the establishment of a separate beach within the HaTzuk area.
Other activists, including Smadar, have raised concerns about the impact on current usage, noting that the area is frequented by surfers, swimmers, runners, and families. Protest organizers argue that the distinction between the declared HaTzuk beach and the strip to its north is irrelevant, as the entire area is currently utilized by the general public. "The wide and open area north of the restaurant, currently used by thousands, will become a separate beach," they claim. They clarify that their opposition is not directed at the religious public's right to a separate beach, but at the choice of location, which currently serves as one of the few remaining open spaces for all citizens.
Opponents warn that the move could lead to increased density at HaTzuk beach and additional pressure on local parking and infrastructure. Conversely, the Tel Aviv Municipality rejects claims that it is converting HaTzuk beach into a separate facility. "Claims that the municipality is establishing a new separate beach at HaTzuk North are incorrect and misleading," the municipality stated. Officials maintain that the project is a relocation of existing services rather than a reduction of public beach access.
According to municipal sources, the transfer of the separate beach from Nordau would open up a significant stretch of coastline in central Tel Aviv, recreating continuity along the beach and promenade. The plan is currently in the examination and planning stages, in coordination with the Herzliya Municipality and relevant authorities, with aspects such as the size of the beach still under review.
