Crowds flock to cities and nature reserves on country’s first municipal election holiday
City streets, national parks and nature reserves were abuzz with excitement on Tuesday as the country’s workforce took advantage of the first legal public holiday courtesy of the municipal elections.
A total of 180,000 Israelis seized the opportunity to enjoy the warm weather at the country’s national parks and nature reserves where a range of special family activities were organized for visitors.
Among the busiest reserves were Ein Afek near Kiryat Bialik, and Einot Tzukim and Ein Gedi by the Dead Sea. The Yarkon, Ein Hemed and Castel national parks also saw heavy footfall. In the democratic spirit of the municipal elections, visitors to Ein Afek voted to choose the nature reserve’s new logo.
More than 7,000 people visited KKL-JNF’s Hula Lake Park in the Upper Galilee, currently home to more than 35,000 migrating cranes, as well as pelicans, flamingos and raptors. Approximately 500 million birds fly through Hula Valley each year en route to their summer and winter grounds.
Many of those opting to spend the day in Israel’s major cities filled restaurants, markets and parks.
“It is an opportunity to go outside and meet friends. There are so many people outside. It’s something positive and a rest from the crazy reality of routine life,” said Snir Nakar, who was enjoying the warm weather at Tel Aviv’s Meir Park.
“This is my first election in Israel and there’s a real sense around the city that people actually care about voting,” said Dave Kanoff, a new immigrant from Florida living in Tel Aviv.
“I probably wouldn’t have been able to vote if I didn’t have the time off as I work quite far from home. I’m spending the day eating, catching up with friends and making plans for the remainder of the week.”
Jerusalem residents Gilia and Joey Sacharow, accompanied by their four-month-old foster guide dog puppy Gordie, spent the morning at the capital’s Sacher Park before spending the afternoon at the movies.
“I think it’s important to have a day off on Election Day because in addition to making our civil rights more accessible to many citizens, the freedom to spend the day as we please creates positive associations with the democratic process,” said Gilia.
“Democracy in this contested region deserves not only to be defended, but celebrated,” said Joey. “I see today as a natural progression of Yom Ha’atzmaut, and plan to commemorate those sacrifices that were made to establish the State of Israel as a proper holiday.”