50,000 Israelis fill beaches to capacity
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis flock to parks, gardens and beaches to mark the 69th Independence Day; large numbers at the Sea of Galilee, two stabbed in a fight; traffic congestion all over the country.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis toured the country Tuesday on Israel's 69th Independence Day. Some 50,000 people vacationed around the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and some of them had already closed during the morning due to overcrowding.
Many of the visitors camped on the beaches overnight, and before noon they lit the barbecues and began celebrating.
Overnight, there was a quarrel between several young people on Tsinbury Beach, and two 17-year-old boys from Upper Nazareth were moderately injured. They said they were attacked with clubs and knives by people they did not know.
In the morning, thousands also arrived at other sites in the north, and spent their time kayaking, throwing picnics along the banks of the Jordan and its tributaries. The KKL-JNF forests have also seen heavy traffic: in the north, the Beit Keshet Forest (in the valleys) and in the western Galilee, Goren Park, Adamit Park and Hanita Forest.
The Air Force base in Ramat David was opened to visitors and a display of the Aerobatic team was held there. Traffic was registered at noon on Route 73 leading to the base. There was also congestion surrounding the heritage site at the Atlit Museum, and the site was closed to further visitors.
The Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority reported that the national parks Ein Hemed, Hurshat Tal and Ma'ayan Harod were closed to further visitors due to full occupancy. Traffic is notable.
