Israel starts reopening northern parks, reserves that have been closed for 14 months amid war

Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter

An employee from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority inspects a burned tree following a rocket attack from Lebanon at the Tel Dan nature reserve in northern Israel on November 4, 2024. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)
An employee from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority inspects a burned tree following a rocket attack from Lebanon at the Tel Dan nature reserve in northern Israel on November 4, 2024. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority announces that starting tomorrow and with the approval of the IDF Home Front Command, it will open several national parks and nature reserves in northern Israel that have been closed for over a year amid the war with Hezbollah.

These include the Bar’am, Achziv, Yehiam Fortress, Tel Hatzor and Nimrod Fortress national parks, and the Nahal Amud and Hula nature reserves.

Other sites closed due to the 14-month war against the Lebanon-based terror organization will be opened gradually.

Several sites will remain closed for repairs. These are the Ein Afek, Nahal Ayun, Hermon Stream (Banias), Nahal Snir and Tel Dan nature reserves, and the Hurshat Tal National Park.

The Nature and Parks Authority says it is checking hiking trails in open areas for debris from the war, together with the Israel Police and the Israel National Mine Action Authority.

It warns hikers not to touch any such debris, to move away and to call the police.

In a statement, Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman says: “After a difficult year of constant fighting and many challenges, the opportunity to once again travel through the spectacular landscapes of the north is a ray of light.”

Raya Shourky, director-general of the Nature and Parks Authority, says: “We are excited to reopen the northern sites to the general public, some of which have remained closed for over a year since the beginning of the fighting. We know that the situation is still complex and that this is not a complete return to routine.”

“The Authority will continue to make nature accessible to the Israeli public as a place to recharge and connect with the heritage and the land,” she adds, advising the public to check the Authority’s website before setting out to hike.

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