Netanya

Netanya (in Hebrew: נְתַנְיָה) is a town of Israel located in the central District, to 29 km in the north of Tel-Aviv. It is the capital of the plain of Sharon.

The territory of the commune covers 29 km ² and its population in 2006 is of: 174000 inhabitants.

Its mayor is Myriam Fierberg-Ikar.

Netanya is a city very attended by the tourists and the pensioners, in particular French.

History

The city was founded in 1928 by citrus fruits farmers on virgin lands, near the ancient city of Poleg. Coastal town established on cliffs, Netanya was initially baptized in the name of the philanthropist American Zionist Nathan Strauss. But the hopes of the founders to receive his financial aid being faded, the name of the city was changed, in Netanya.

Its proximity of the Palestinian city of Tulkarem (14 km) makes it vulnerable to many terrorist attacks. In March 2002, Netanya was thus the place of the massacre of Pessah', causing the death of 30 people. Hundred forty others were seriously wounded in this attack Terroriste.

List mayors

Demography

According to the central office of the statistics of Israel (CBS,), the population of Netanya is estimated at: 174000 inhabitants in 2006 ; what makes of it the 8th city of the country for its population.

The census of 2001 fact of appearing that the city is populated to 99,9% of Jews and not significant Arab population (cf Démographie of Israel). One counted then: 78800 men and: 84900 women.

The distribution by age group was the following one:

31,1% of 0-19 years,
15,3% of 20-29 years,
17,2% of 30-44 years,
17,4% of 45-59 years,
4,2% of 60-64,
14,9% 65 years and more.

Annual growth rate was of 1,3%.

Education

According to the CBS, there are 68 schools and: 30975 students in the city: 46 elementary schools (: 15602 pupils) and 33 universities (: 15373 pupils).

Tourist attractions

The long littoral of Netanya (11 km) and its many beaches (8 seaside resorts) led to the development of a flourishing tourism industry, with many hotels, restaurants and commercial arcades.

Netanya also counts three parks and natural reserves:

the park Netanya was arranged around the Pond of Winter; it is a park of adventures covering a surface of 2 ha with wood plays and corners for picnics;
the natural reserve of the Irises which lodges the greatest quantity of Iris atropurpurea in the world;
the reserve Bitan Aharon including/understanding caves of the Byzantine time.

In March 2006, the American billionaire Donald Trump announced his will to build a hotel with Netanya.

Sports

Netanya counts three clubs of Football, whose main thing is the Maccabi Netanya, five times winner of the championship and once of the Coupe.

The city also has a club of Basket-ball, the Elitzur Netanya which evolves/moves in the 2nd division of the national championship. In Baseball, the city is represented in Israeli League by the Netanya Tigers .

Twinnings

The town of Netanya is twinned with the following cities:

References

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