The Sea of Galilee dispute

Tourist Ministry opposes tourism project at Lake Kinneret saying it would damage sites sacred to Christianity

Reuters | Published: 02.13.07, 18:25

The Tourist Ministry is trying to hinder the project for the Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) circle path which is set to attract numerous Israeli and foreign tourists, arguing that it may damage sites sacred to Christianity.

In recent years more and more beaches were taken from the public or closed by private entrepreneurs. The response to this was to build the Galilee circle path, aimed at giving the lake back to the public and enabling tourists to tour its entire length without interruption. In recent days the plan was approved by the relevant ministerial committees.

Such paths are common throughout the world and serve as popular tourist attractions, such examples include California's coastal road, Lakeshore Drive in Lake Tahoe, and the Lake Superior circle route in Ontario, Canada. Yet in Israel, as it has now become apparent, the Tourist Ministry is opposing the path and it has appealed to the government to revoke its decision to approve parts of the plan.

The Tourist Ministry's argument is that the initial phase of the Sea of Galilee circle road was assigned to the area between the Kfar Nahum National Park and the Arik Bridge, but that same area has been designated to promote Christian Evangelist tourism. The Ministry was contacted by Christian sources who expressed their concern that the path would damage the sites sacred to Christianity.

Nir Papai, the coordinator for the department of Sea and Shore Preservation at the Society for the Protection of Nature, said Monday that "it's a shame that while an opportunity has been presented and numerous business enterprises are expressing an interest in the path, it is the Tourist Ministry hindering the process."

Sources at the Tourist Ministry said that the Ministry does not oppose the Galilee circle path. "The appeal was filed to assure that the areas sacred to Christianity are not damaged and that the interests of the area's cultural-tourism and its religious Christian heritage are preserved."