Weekly Update 75

February 27, 2026

Hello, everyone.

Here is a summary of the topics in this week’s newsletter:

• Topic 1: Further serious developments regarding the mayor’s plan to demolish a national heritage site and build an event hall in place of a public park and land designated for a national heritage site. And this week: accidental or intentional withholding of information? From the Regional Planning Committee for the Baron Settlement and Construction, to which the council submitted the construction plan. And worst of all—the mayor is not stopping his push for this destructive plan.
• Second issue: A media investigation regarding the closure of water wells in the Zichron Ya’akov area due to contamination—this alarmed and greatly disturbed many residents who waited and waited for a clarification from the council. Which came only a day later.
• Third issue: The “elegant brochure” we received this week in our homes, which reviews the council’s activities in 2025 and its goals for 2026, left a bitter taste in my mouth for a number of reasons. Read why
• Fourth topic: We have two high-quality cultural and leisure centers. I recommend keeping an eye on them
• Fifth topic: In 2026 as well, reserve duty soldiers who meet the criteria and fill out a form will be eligible to park for free in blue-and-white zones throughout the council.

Topic 1: The Ohel Yaakov Synagogue Affair – Further Serious Developments

For over a year now, I have been monitoring, writing about, and addressing the unbelievable plan to demolish a national heritage site and build an event hall right next to it—on land that is also historic—which they intend to rent out for bar mitzvahs, Shabbat Chatan celebrations, and more. And subsequently, will this entire national asset be transferred to the synagogue association that was established a year and a half ago? This is precisely the intention declared by the council head in his illegal letter to the Registrar of Associations. A letter that did not include the two authorized signatories of the council and was not on official council letterhead. It was done in secret and with deceit, as I have already reported to you.

This entire affair is being carried out through continuous misrepresentation and concealment from council members and the public. And this week, the situation reached a new low when they concealed essential information from the Regional Planning and Construction Committee to which the plan to build the event hall was submitted. (A plan I attached to the previous newsletter) Had it not been for my regular checks on the committee’s website and my constant monitoring of all properties in Zichron Ya’acov, this story would never have come to light.

This week I sent an urgent letter to a long list of officials at the Haifa District Planning and Building Committee (the committee chair and the district planner) and to the Baron Regional Committee (the committee chair and the legal advisor). This urgent letter was sent because this week the Regional Committee is set to discuss the plan submitted by the Council to rezone part of the area designated as a national heritage site—as well as the adjacent small public open space—from its current designation to land for public buildings. All of this is intended to allow for the construction of an events and conference hall, which would destroy a national heritage site.

When I reviewed the information presented to the decision-makers on the Regional Committee, I was stunned! The applicant, the Zichron Ya’akov Local Council, omitted (or concealed?) essential factual information that must be before the Regional Committee when it discusses the plan. Imagine if a resident had submitted a plan to the committee and concealed essential information—that would be fraud! And his plan would have been rejected. But apparently, what is forbidden for us is permitted for the council head.

Below is a partial list of what was not included in the agenda (was it hidden?):

1. The Haifa District Planning and Construction Committee issued two opinions, in 2016 and 2021, in which it categorically rejects any construction or plan of the type proposed today.

2. It was not disclosed/was hidden that there are two recent expert opinions from conservation specialists opposing the construction of this event hall.

The first is an opinion from the council’s own preservation consultant, who completely rejects the requested change in a detailed document (the opinion appears in the minutes of the council’s Preservation Committee). The second is a written opinion from the Council for the Preservation of Sites, which is the supreme and authoritative institution in this field; it too strongly opposes the council’s plan and, alternatively, proposes an adapted plan for the development and preservation of the area as an open space for the general public, along with the renovation of the kitchenette and restrooms.

Following my urgent appeal, the legal advisor to the Regional Committee contacted me and informed me that the meeting had been postponed to this Thursday and that the committee is reviewing my appeal.

As soon as the minutes of this meeting are published, I will update you.

In summary: once again, a lack of transparency; once again, a failure to provide essential information—this time to the Regional Committee—all of this in addition to the extreme unreasonableness of the plan itself to build a synagogue event hall on historic land, contrary to the position of the Council for the Preservation of Sites and the Council’s preservation consultant.

See the image below for what the Council for the Preservation of Sites proposed—this is how you preserve historic sites: by restoring and beautifying them, not by covering them with an event hall!!

Second Issue: The Water Investigation

This week, "HaShomrim" published an investigation regarding contaminated drinking water wells discovered near Zichron Ya’akov.

https://share.google/6yY1clEc0bGLOkzy3 Read here

Only a day later did the Council inform the media and the public that there is no problem with Zichron Ya’akov’s drinking water because we receive water from other reservoirs. In my opinion, this is too long a response time, especially during such a crisis. And it’s important to improve in the future.

Third issue: What bothers me about the glossy brochure we received this week titled “Summary of Activities for 2025 and Goals for 2026”

The glossy brochure really bothered me. Its content was indeed impressive and gave the impression of a council working hard for its residents. I was glad I voted in favor of some of the items mentioned in the brochure. But it still left a bad taste in my mouth for a number of reasons.

1. Each of the two deputy mayors was given their own separate page. I read what they wrote over and over again—and found no justification for the fact that both receive an annual salary of 1.2 million NIS and two official vehicles.

Deputy Mayor Tzila Reshef wrote only about her impressive goals for 2026 and essentially did not mention what she did in 2025. The brochure’s content suggests it is primarily a summary of 2025 activities—so I expected to read exactly what her activities were in the past year. Perhaps this will help me answer all the residents who constantly ask me what she does on the council.

Deputy Mayor Meir Vanunu did report on his activities in 2025. Working meetings with ministers are important, but promised budgets that aren’t backed by official authorizations won’t help advance the town’s development. And again, regarding the mail: staying in touch with the minister’s/ministry’s representative is important, but for several months now, mail delivery service throughout the town has been simply catastrophic. And complaints are piling up to no avail.

1. I read the Engineering Department’s summary and did not find the information most important to residents there—how many building permits were issued in the past year, and why the number of permits has risen dramatically (as I presented to you in the newsletter based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics). Also, when was the last time the council filed an objection to a construction plan that severely impacts the future and character of the town (see the building at the corner of Oranim and HaNassi, which I’ve already addressed)?
2. I read the Engineering Department’s summary, which states: “Ramaz Neighborhood: Realigning Ha’amal Street and creating regulated parking solutions. We have added approximately 20 new parking spaces for the benefit of the residents.” For the benefit of the residents? Ask the neighborhood residents if their parking situation has improved—or if it has gotten worse.
3. And finally, I felt the thick, very expensive pages of the brochure. Why weren’t they satisfied with a regular sheet of paper? That would have saved money and spared a few trees from being cut down. Why didn’t they produce just a few hundred brochures for distribution only at public centers and distribute the brochure to everyone via digital means?
4. There are several other issues related to the editing and production of the brochure, and I am currently examining them in depth.
5. And I could go on. But you get the point.

I’d love to hear from you—what did you think when you read the booklet? And maybe there are things I should pay attention to. Write to me.

Topic Four: Wonderful cultural events await you at two institutions you may not be familiar with

To all lovers of culture and leisure, I recommend subscribing to the mailing lists of two places that are a veritable treasure trove of culture and intimate, special events.

You’re invited to join the mailing lists of the First Aliyah Museum and the Public Library.

They offer a variety of events across a range of fields—the history of the colony, literature and poetry gatherings, quality films and documentaries, exhibitions by local artists, and more. Let’s support them and come out.

Topic 5: Reserve duty soldiers will continue to be eligible for free parking in the Council’s blue-and-white zones in 2025

At the last council meeting, we voted unanimously to extend this benefit for reserve duty soldiers for another year. The benefit is available to active reserve duty soldiers who served at least 30 days in 2025.

Each year, including for 2026, you must fill out a new form and attach the required documentation: active reserve duty certificate/IDF confirmation of reserve duty days, ID card, and vehicle registration.

Here is the link: https://www.zy1882.co.il/News/NewsItem.aspx?nodeId=1113&id=3962