The Sanz Beach in Netanyahu is designated for separate swimming, serving a fairly large tzibur. Netanya City Hall even has a municipal inspector stationed there to make certain persons enter the correct side to prevent problems, however the presence of an inspector has secular residents upset.

A resident who wanted to go down the stairs to the sea with his family and continue on the sand track to the beach next to the separate beach, as he did every week, was blocked by the inspector who told him that it was a private beach and that he could walk around via the Four Seasons or Blue Bay beaches.

Opinions of the public were divided, some thought that the closure of the stairs was justified, and it was appropriate to allow the public to maintain modesty of bathing in total separation, and some argued that this was another violation of the status quo since it has always been possible to descend the stairs to the beach and turn before the separation fence to the beach, without disturbing the bathers.

“There is a violation of the freedom of movement of women and men,” said a resident of the city. “We offered some solutions because of course we understand the right of men and women to swim separately, but it is inconceivable that we will block the short passage through the separate beach to the regulated beaches.”

The municipality of Netanya said in response that “an urban inspector has been placed at the Sanz Beach for many years, in order to maintain order on the beach, which is the only one in Netanya that is declared separate for residents and their guests.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)