16/02/2025
At first glance, you might think this place is part of a luxurious lakeside retreat in Florida.
But this river has opened a Pandora’s box of over 70 years of unresolved tensions.
Meet the Asi River.
The Asi River conflict is one of Israel’s most heated debates in recent years. On one side – residents of Beit She’an and social activists. On the other – members of Kibbutz Nir David. And the controversy? The right to access this stunning river, which flows through the kibbutz’s land.
💬 What are both sides saying?
✅ In favor of opening the river to the public:
A river is a public natural resource and should be accessible to everyone!
Historical discrimination – why should only kibbutz members, most of whom are privileged, enjoy it?
Israel’s Water Law states that all water sources belong to the public, so why is this one closed?
❌ In favor of keeping the river under kibbutz control:
The kibbutz’s land is private property – like a backyard, and they have the right to restrict entry.
Concerns about environmental damage and security – overcrowding could harm the river and pose safety risks.
The kibbutz invests in maintaining and preserving the river, so they argue they have the right to manage access.
💡 What’s happening now?
There have been attempts at compromise, such as partially opening the river, but the protests continue. More than just a fight over a river, this has become a symbol of the divide between kibbutzim and development towns, between old and new immigrants, and between social privilege and inequality.
🚨 Want to hear more?
Join me on Sunday, February 23rd, at 6 PM for a dinner discussion about Israeli society and the country that unites Jews from over 100 different nations!
Our Israel:
The Big Puzzle
https://jewishstpaul.givevirtuous.org/Event/our-israel-the-big-puzzle