Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
(Video: Yuval Dax, Nature and Parks Authority)
Israel's Nature and Parks Authority announced the reopening of all hiking trails in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve on Sunday, half a year after the deadly rockslide incident in August in which eight-year-old Yehuda Levi was killed.
A post on the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve's Facebook page read: "At last, we've received all of the required approvals from the relevant authorities to reopen all hiking trails in the reserve that have been closed since the rockslide incident. Nahal Arugot will reopen, and Nahal David and its waterfall will also allow visitors."
However, another announcement read: "Following warnings from the Israel Meteorological Service about possible floods in the area, Nahal David will be partially opened in its lower part up to David Waterfall, and Ein Gedi Spring in its upper part. The Tzafit Trail, Dry Canyon, Dodim Cave and the ascent trails will be closed.
The Nature and Parks Authority also noted that "all tracks along the coast and the Dead Sea are closed due to security alerts. Dozens of Iranian missiles were intercepted across the Judean Desert, and there's debris scattered around the area."
The Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is set to open one week before Passover, during which Israelis enjoy visiting popular nature reserves across the country.