(Live here) – Fight against the destruction of another forest plot for the benefit of a neighborhood: The Haifa Municipality held a residents' meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, regarding the "Golda Uprising" plan, with the participation of Mayor Yona Yahav, his deputies, and council members. During the meeting, residents of the Ramat Golda neighborhood expressed their concerns about harm to green areas, infrastructure, and their quality of life, while the mayor and the municipal administration presented the planning and legal background for advancing the plan.
Residents fear irreversible damage to green areas
The meeting was attended by Deputy Mayor Sarit Golan, Deputy and Acting Mayor Avihu Hahn, Council members Moti Blitzblau and Neta Buchbot, professionals from the relevant municipal units, and many residents. During the meeting, the positions of the residents, most of whom were residents of the Ramat Golda neighborhood, were heard in detail, expressing their concerns that the plan could cause irreversible damage to the green areas surrounding their neighborhood, burden the transportation system and infrastructure, and harm the quality of life of the residents of the area and the city as a whole.
Municipality: Bound by ruling – failure to advance the plan could expose it to compensation claims
The mayor and his deputies addressed all the claims that were raised and presented the planning and legal background for promoting the plan. As part of the discussion, it was clarified that this is an area designated for housing by virtue of a long-standing mandatory plan, and that the municipality is acting in continuation of legal proceedings that were taken against it and against the local committee and in accordance with the rulings issued by the Magistrate's Court. The rulings indicate that failure to promote the plan could expose the municipality to claims for compensation. It was further clarified that the municipality and the local committee are working to promote up-to-date planning, adapted to current planning standards, while providing a response to the needs of the public, regulating access routes and preserving trees and natural values, from a balance between the public and environmental interest and the rights of the landowners.
Significant reduction in the scope of residential lots compared to the original plan
Within the framework of the proposed plan, the scope of the residential lot layout has been significantly reduced compared to the currently approved plan, in order to reduce the scope of tree felling as much as possible. At the meeting, it was emphasized to the residents that the municipality intends to continue to examine the plan carefully throughout the planning process, in order to ascertain how to preserve as many green areas as possible, while providing a response to the city's development needs. It was also emphasized that once the plan is approved for submission by the District Committee, the public will be able to submit objections, which will be examined within the framework of the planning process stipulated by law.
Mayor Yahav: "This is a plan that I oppose, but the municipality is bound by the ruling"
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav said, "The residents' meeting we held is an integral part of our decision-making process. It was important for us to hear the residents directly and address each of the issues that came up. This is a plan that I oppose, but unfortunately the municipality is bound by a court ruling." Yahav added, "The municipality is committed to examining the plan carefully and to acting as much as possible to preserve the green areas and natural values of the Carmel, while meeting its legal and judicial obligations. We will continue to promote responsible, balanced and transparent planning that serves the good of the city and its residents."
We have already gone through all the stages of public participation with all the parties, representatives of the neighborhoods, the Society for the Protection of Nature, the owners of the plots, and the municipality 16 years ago. There are registered protocols that the construction will indeed get underway. There was agreement from all the parties. We have court rulings in hand and the municipality is obligated to promote the plan according to court rulings. It cannot be that interested parties will once again pop up from time to time to cause noise. The roads will be promoted and the construction will get underway!
It won't help. Trying to cancel the decree to demolish Givat Zemer, which was a green lung, won't help. The city will withdraw and the committee will approve, and Green Haifa will quickly become a city of concrete. It's no wonder there's migration out to the Levin cities.
It is cheaper to demolish and evacuate the Ramat Golda neighborhood than to cancel the approved construction on the entire ridge. This would meet the residents' demand for a green mountain.
For the sake of nature…we need to release good animals into the wild.
First release the dove.