For the first time, she inhaled the salt air and was lulled by the sound of the waves.The beach in Netanya, Israel, was just 30 miles from her home in Nablus, in the West Bank, but it may as well have been another world.“I always knew I would eventually make it to the beach, but I never thought it would be so easy,” Ms. Jamous said.She was among the tens of thousands of Palestinians who enjoyed a rare day at the beach over the past several days through an informal arrangement that required no Israeli permit but did require slipping through holes in Israel’s security barrier.The opening was tacit and unannounced, and after a flurry of Israeli and Palestinian news reports on it, Israel shut it down on Tuesday.The Israeli military and other security agencies declined to comment on why Palestinians were allowed to cross through openings in the barrier — a series of fences and walls that cut off much of the occupied West Bank from Israel — without permits. That concern may be one reason for the government’s silence about the opening, which would have been unpopular with a large sector of the Israeli public.Many residents of Netanya, a conservative town where the right-wing Likud party captured the most votes in the last election, in April, expressed opposition to allowing Palestinians to cross into Israel without permits, though some welcomed it.“These are people who would like to spend time at the beach,” said Maurice Sedowitz, a retired dentist. Israel usually requires Palestinians to obtain travel permits — an often arduous and complicated process that includes passing significant security checks — to cross into its territory.Gadi Shamni, a former head of the military’s Central Command, said he thought that Israel was trying to “relieve pressure” on Palestinians in the West Bank, where unemployment has risen sharply since the emergence of the coronavirus.Israel usually issues tens of thousands of permits to Palestinians over the Eid holidays but did not this year because of restrictions officials said were imposed to combat the virus. al-Naanaa said that Israeli authorities had previously barred him from entering Israel on security grounds. Palestinian tour agencies, which have suffered major losses since the pandemic hit the West Bank in March, sprung into action.Saadi Abu Zant, the owner of Prestige Travel and Tourism, organized two trips this past week with stops in Haifa as well as the beach in Netanya.“For months, I sat at home doing absolutely nothing,” Mr. Abu Zant said. “Jaffa, Tel Aviv,” said another.The beachgoers paid the drivers, took their seats and were off.Azzam al-Naanaa, 44, a husky university security guard from Nablus who was visiting Netanya, said the last time he went to an Israeli beach was two decades ago.“It’s a very special experience to come to the beach, but it’s even more special because I did so with my kids,” he said. Israelis, left, passed by a Palestinian family taking in the view at Netanya beach.“Being here today is really a dream come true,” said Nasreen Abu Alia, who came with her daughter. Israel closed its borders at the start of the lockdown, and the international tourism on which the museum relies for ticket sales plummeted from a record high of over 900,000 visitors in 2019 to zero by mid-March. He did not say why but Israel often takes such measures against members of militant organizations, people it suspects of involvement in violence and people related to those who committed violent crimes.The West Bank is landlocked except for a small strip on the Dead Sea, which is hot, hard to swim in and under Israeli control.Holes have existed in the fences for years. Share … 0. And where should you stop to eat on the way? Get the top stories on Israel, the Middle East and Jewish World - Live updates Israel Extends Coronavirus Quarantine Orders to All Arrivals, 58 Cases Confirmed . Discover the hottest roasting houses and best blends of beans, as well as the most succulent sandwiches to snack on, on the side.From the meatiest burgers to the most divine sandwiches, from the best pizzas to mouthwatering bourekas, it's the city that always eatsFoods from around the Mediterranean, a decadent carnivore’s delight, Asian seafood or cheesy treats from Georgia are just a few of the culinary offerings in this atmospheric area of Tel Aviv-JaffaThese bars take pride in the unconventional, like exceptional food served alongside vast ranges of beer.Are visitors from abroad bugging you about ‘genuine Israeli cuisine’?
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