Ashkelon Plans Relocation of Separate Beach for Ultra-Orthodox

The city of Ashkelon is moving forward with plans to relocate and upgrade its separate beach, a move expected to significantly improve the bathing experience for the ultra-Orthodox, religious, and traditional communities, as well as tens of thousands of visitors. A professional tour held Thursday included Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam and Interior Ministry Director-General Israel Ozana, signaling progress on the long-awaited solution.

The proposed plan involves moving the separate beach to a more suitable and accessible location and operating it in a way that allows for full gender segregation throughout the entire bathing season. Currently, the beach operates with separate days allocated for men and women. This new model aims to provide a more comprehensive and readily available option for families and visitors, while strictly adhering to modesty standards.

The tour was attended by senior officials from the Interior Ministry, including Deputy Director-General Moshe Mor Yosef and Head of Bathing Beaches Barak Potolsky, along with other ministry professionals. They examined potential sites for the new beach, emphasizing the need to maintain modesty and provide a facility that meets the community's needs.

This initiative is part of a broader national effort led by Interior Ministry Director-General Ozana to regulate separate bathing beaches across Israel and cater to diverse populations. The project is estimated to cost tens of millions of shekels and is intended to offer a long-term solution for both Ashkelon residents and visitors.

Mayor Glam stated his commitment to addressing the needs of the ultra-Orthodox community in Ashkelon, expressing gratitude to the Interior Ministry for their support. Director-General Ozana praised the initiative as part of the ministry's policy to provide dignified, accessible, and safe services to all sectors of the population. A final decision on the new location is expected after the completion of final surveys.