Herzliya mayor warns beaches may close after cliff collapses

While no injuries were reported, the public was told to stay away from the affected area and to adhere to safety protocols.

A portion of a cliff at Sydney Ali Beach in Herzliya collapsed on Saturday, escalating a growing threat to Israel’s coastal areas.

No injuries were reported.

While the affected area was already closed to the public, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) has issued warnings about the increased risk of further collapses along the coastline, stretching from Palmachim to Hadera.

The INPA clarified that the area in question is permanently closed due to an ongoing risk of collapse. “This collapse … pertains to an area that has long been under threat,” said a representative from INPA.

The public is urged to stay away from the affected area and to adhere to safety protocols. Visitors should avoid the cliffs and heed the warning signs posted throughout the area, the INPA said.

A growing danger along the entire coastal strip

The collapse in Herzliya highlights a broader, unresolved issue. There is an immediate and ongoing risk of more cliff collapses along the entire coastal strip, from central Israel to the north. The INPA warned that the threat is likely to intensify, particularly as cliff rehabilitation efforts have lagged in recent years.

“We are on the verge of closing Herzliya’s beaches,” Herzliya Mayor Yair Fischer said after Saturday’s incident. “This collapse is not an isolated incident but the result of years of neglect and insufficient funding for the national coastal cliff protection program,” he added.

Fischer further stated that the city will not take any chances with public safety, adding that if immediate solutions are not implemented, the municipality may have no choice but to close more sections of the beach. “We cannot afford to wait for a disaster. The responsibility is national, and so must be the solution,” he asserted.

The national implications of the collapse

Cliff collapses have become an increasing concern along Israel’s coastline, particularly in areas popular with tourists and locals alike. The collapse at Sydney Ali Beach is part of a wider pattern of incidents in recent years, with coastal cliffs across the country slowly crumbling, according to INPA.

The risk of further collapses presents not only a serious threat to human safety but also endangers the health of Israel’s coastal environment and natural beach areas. According to the INPA, many of Israel’s beaches are at risk of collapse due to natural factors such as soil erosion, climate change, and the lack of effective coastal defense planning.

Fischer highlighted the urgent need for national funding to address the rehabilitation of the cliffs. “The solutions must be national, not just local,” Fischer stated, stressing the national importance of addressing the issue without delay.

“Without immediate action and national-level rehabilitation efforts, both public safety and Israel’s coastal environment remain at risk.”