Historic Water Tower in Binyamina Collapses After Decades of Neglect

A historic water tower in Binyamina, estimated to be around 100 years old, collapsed on Friday, September 18th. The structure, located near the Kramim school and Ramat HaNadiv, had been declared a heritage site by the local council. The tower, built in the 1930s, had been in a state of disrepair for many years, with the Israel Land Authority warning of its potential collapse nine years prior. Following that warning, the area was fenced off, and access was restricted.

Local council representatives, including engineers, along with firefighters and rescue teams, arrived at the scene to assess the situation. Their immediate priorities include securing the area and removing the debris. The tower was originally constructed to supply water to residential homes and agricultural farms in the settlement. It was situated on the grounds of former British military camp No. 101, where the tower itself was considered a strategic asset. After the British departed, the former camp area became part of the Binyamina 'ma'abara,' a temporary settlement for new immigrants.