Environmental Authorities Demand Halt to Coffee Cart Construction Near Rosh HaAyin Forest
The Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Yarkon Drainage and Rivers Authority have ordered the Rosh HaAyin municipality to immediately stop construction of a coffee cart near the Rosh HaAyin forest and to remove the infrastructure already installed. They warn that placing the cart at the planned location could endanger lives and property. This follows a court order freezing the work after environmental groups filed a petition, with a hearing scheduled in two days.
Rosh HaAyin Mayor Raz Shagai continues to promote the coffee cart’s placement east of the forest in a wildlife crossing area, despite opposition from environmental organizations and warnings from authorities about environmental and infrastructure damage. The Nature and Parks Authority stated that the cart’s construction could severely disrupt the ecological corridor, potentially leading to the extinction of local wildlife. No ecological assessment supporting the project has been presented.
The Yarkon Drainage Authority last week demanded urgent removal of the structures, including the coffee cart, toilets, and a sewage collection tank, which were built without required permits. The area is designated for water retention and drainage to prevent flooding, and the construction reduces drainage capacity, increasing flood risk. The authority warned it might issue a removal order or carry out the evacuation itself, charging the municipality.
Rami Rozen, Director General of the Environmental Protection Ministry, urged Mayor Shagai to consider an alternative location, citing the site’s ecological sensitivity and its role as a vital wildlife corridor connecting the Samaria region to Rosh HaAyin. The area hosts various animals such as deer, jackals, foxes, and small mammals, and the hydrological conditions make it vulnerable to soil and groundwater contamination. Unauthorized sewage pits and increased vehicle traffic could cause further environmental harm.
The developers, three young entrepreneurs who invested over 100,000 shekels, expressed frustration over the legal battle delaying their project. One developer, Sagiv Ackerman, said they hope the dispute between petitioners and the municipality will be resolved soon so they can operate the cart. Mayor Shagai maintains the site is legal, located on designated road land under a large interchange, approved by the Jewish National Fund and prepared as a parking lot for forest visitors two years ago.
