Park Hotel in Netanya, Site of 2002 Passover Massacre, Slated for Demolition

Park Hotel in Netanya, a site that has become synonymous with the pain of dozens of families, is slated for demolition 24 years after a devastating terror attack. The hotel, along with the adjacent Ginot Yam Hotel, located at 7 and 9 King David Street, will be razed to make way for a new, modern 30-story mixed-use tower on the beachfront.

The Hamas suicide bombing on Passover night, March 27, 2002, killed 30 Israelis and wounded 160, making it one of the deadliest attacks during the Second Intifada and a particularly traumatic event for Netanya. The hotel has since served as a somber national landmark.

The Central District Planning and Building Commission has approved a new master plan for the site, which includes the demolition of the old hotels and the construction of a new tower. This tower will feature luxury residences, hotel facilities, and commercial spaces, along with a two-story commercial building and public open areas, including pedestrian access to the sea.

While the hotel's demolition marks the end of an era and a potential transformation of the area into a modern architectural and tourism hub, the municipality is considering ways to commemorate the victims of the attack. The plan, signed by the outgoing chairman of the Central District Commission, Micha Gadron, reclassifies the land from residential and hotel use to a combined residential, tourism, and commercial zone.

The plan is currently open for public objections for two months. Following the review of any objections and final approval, the process of obtaining building permits for demolition and construction is expected to take several years. Actual demolition work is anticipated to begin no earlier than 2028 or 2029.