A plan highly-disputed by environmentalists to construct some 27,000 hotel rooms, presumably nearly all along the beaches of Israel, over the next decade received Knesset plenary approval on Monday night, August 1. Promoted by far right and neo-liberal Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, the “Hotels Law” is an amendment to the country’s Planning and Building Law that recognizes hotel construction as a matter of national infrastructure – a move designed to ease the bureaucracy associated with the building process. In addition, the amendment enables hotel proprietors to reduce their financial risk by designating up to 20% of their buildings for residential purposes, pending regional planning committee approval.

Demonstrators protest against the disputed plan to construct 27,000 hotel rooms outside of the home of Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, Monday evening, August 1. (Photo: Megama Yeruka)

Hadash MK Dov Khenin (Joint List) who has been a leading opponent against the law expressed his concern about the “far-reaching, fundamental determination” of deeming hotels national infrastructure. “I welcome the idea that harm to beaches will be reduced, but on the whole I believe that this law is problematic, harmful and dangerous, a dream for capitalist tycoons,” MK Khenin said. Meanwhile, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) voiced continued opposition to the plans. “The role of ministers and Knesset members is to serve the public, to act on its behalf and in its favor,” a statement from SPNI said. “Those who voted today for the legislation acted against the public and helped approve a law that will harm the public.”

Related: Gov’t-Sponsored Bill to Give Nat’l Infrastructure Status to Hotels