(Hai Pa) – The Home Front Command's instructions to close the beaches in Haifa, which were intended to prevent dangerous gatherings during alarms, led to a controversial municipal decision. While the public heeded the instructions and avoided entering the water, the closure of public restrooms creates a real difficulty for travelers on the open promenades.
Beaches closed – the public remains on the boardwalk
The Home Front Command's decision is intended primarily to protect human lives, with the understanding that bathers may be caught without shelter during an alarm. Haifa residents are largely respecting the instructions and avoiding the waterfront, but continue to come to promenades such as the Hecht Promenade and the Bat Galim area to get some fresh air near the sea.
However, many visitors report a lack of understanding regarding the closure of public restrooms, especially when staying on the promenades themselves is not completely prohibited.
Locked toilets – distress in the field
The closure of restrooms, including those near the shelters and the Marine Research Institute area, creates daily hardship for travelers. These essential facilities, which are supposed to serve the public both routinely and in emergencies, remain locked - with no adequate alternative.
The result: Many visitors are forced to deal with basic shortages while they are outside, which sparks frustration and criticism of the municipality.
Residents' complaints: "Damage to hygiene and quality of life"
The “Hai Pa” system has received many complaints from residents of the Bat Galim neighborhood and the surrounding area, describing a significant impact on the quality of life. According to them, the closure of the toilets has led to a phenomenon in which passersby are forced to evacuate to open spaces, near residential buildings and in alleys.
Residents report severe odor nuisances, violation of privacy, and a sense of neglect. “Our environment has become a makeshift toilet,” claim some residents, emphasizing that even in times of emergency, public toilets must be maintained at a minimum.
Who is responsible? Differences in positions between the municipality and the Home Front Command
In response to "Hai Fe"'s request, the Home Front Command clarified that no directive was given to close public services, and that responsibility for this lies with the local authority.
On the other handThe Haifa Municipality claims that the closure of the restrooms is part of a comprehensive implementation of the beach closure guidelines, and is intended to discourage the public from coming and prevent them from staying in the area for an extended period of time.
While the Home Front Command distinguishes between a bathing ban and the operation of public toilets, the municipality sees the move as another enforcement tool within the framework of security preparedness.
The public demands a balanced solution
Along with understanding the importance of security guidelines, the public expects a balanced response that will allow for maintaining safety alongside basic and hygienic conditions in the public space.
It appears that the gap between the guidelines and the implementation on the ground continues to arouse criticism – and the call now is to find a solution that will address both the security needs and the needs of the residents.
Haifa Municipality's response: In accordance with the Home Front Command's instructions, the city's beaches are closed to the public and are not to be accessed at this time. In light of the closure of the beaches and the prohibition on staying there, all beach services (including the restrooms) are closed. This is as part of the overall implementation of the instructions and with the aim of preventing access to and stay in the beach areas. The municipality is acting in accordance with the instructions of the authorized bodies and will continue to update the public according to developments.
Did the article interest you?
In the first picture, this is the shelter on the beach, which is supposed to be a shelter, not a toilet, where pigs shit in the summer. I've talked about it a million times. If the municipality couldn't enter because there's shit everywhere, including on the walls. Of course, these are people who need to take their heads off, but let them shit at home, not in a disgusting shelter.
I can't understand many things that certain factors decide for us.
They tell us that they want to keep us safe, and on the other hand, in order not to pay free salaries to municipal workers, for example, at the lifeguard beaches, who will bring them back to work and only risk their lives because they have nothing to do, the decision is that there should be no bathing beaches!?