Lod Court Halts Coffee Cart Construction in Rosh HaAyin Forest Over Wildlife Concerns

A district court in Lod has temporarily suspended construction work on a coffee cart in the Rosh HaAyin forest due to concerns about harm to local wildlife. The halt will remain in place until July 27 to allow the municipality to respond. The coffee cart, popular at the forest entrance, was slated to be relocated to a new site within the forest, near a critical wildlife corridor, prompting environmental objections.

Rosh HaAyin Mayor Raz Shagai insists the relocation area is disturbed land beneath a major interchange and that animals primarily move there at night when the cart is closed, arguing the passage will not be blocked. However, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel warn that the new location is a narrow ecological corridor connecting the forest to natural areas in the West Bank, vital for wildlife movement and genetic diversity. They fear the coffee cart and associated infrastructure could disrupt this corridor, leading to local wildlife extinction.

Environmental groups also highlight risks from sewage infrastructure installation without proper coordination, which could pollute nearby streams and the Yarkon River. Residents and activists have gathered over 2,200 signatures on a petition opposing the project, arguing that commercial facilities and parking should be located within the city rather than sensitive ecological zones.

The coffee cart owners, three young entrepreneurs, expressed frustration at the legal challenge, noting they invested over 100,000 shekels in the relocation site chosen by the municipality and hope for a swift resolution to operate the cart soon. The court’s decision to freeze work reflects ongoing tensions between development interests and environmental preservation in the Rosh HaAyin area.