Jaffa's Neveh Golan swimming pool
Photo: Michael Shtindler
No more separate bathing in Jaffa pool
Leaders of Arab committees receive promise local pool will no longer be rented out to Jews only for one day every fortnight
The Jewish residents' committees in the city of Jaffa has decided to stop renting out the local Neveh Golan swimming poll to Jews only for one day every fortnight, following a Yedioth Tel Aviv report last week.
According to last week's report, one of Jaffa's neighborhoods decided to ban the entry of Arabs into the local pool every other Monday due to violent acts committed by Arab bathers against Jews.
"It was supposed to take place once again next week, but since the report, the organization of the event has been halted," said a neighborhood activist. "The exposure of this issue has simply caused everyone to back down from the idea."
Initial Report
Jewish neighborhoods' committees find original, controversial way to deal with violent incidents by local Arab pool goers, restricting their access to facility for one day every fortnight
The publication sparked a row, brining the ethnic separation between the neighborhood's residents to an end.
"I understood from source in Jaffa that this matter will not repeat itself," said Kamal Agbaria, chairman of the neighborhood committee for Jaffa's Ajami and Jabaliya neighborhoods. "Next Monday we'll go out to the field and ensure that this isn't taking place, and if we discover the opposite, we'll organize protest outside the pool."
The issue is expected to be discussed in the committee's meeting next week.
"This will be the meeting's main issue and I hope to receive explanations on what happened," Agrabia added. "If we’re not satisfied and only hear justifications for the act, I will personally consider retiring from this forum. There is no use to discuss coexistence in the meetings and do the opposite in practice."
