Herzliya Municipality and Councilman Clash Over Public Land Parking Lot
A public land dispute in Herzliya between Mayor Yariv Fisher and city council member Rafi Kadosh centers on municipal plans to build a new parking lot.
A plot of land adjacent to the home of Herzliya city council member and Likud activist Rafi Kadosh has become the center of a dispute between him and the municipality, which began constructing a public parking lot on the site. Municipal officials claim Kadosh usurped the public land several years ago for personal use, while Kadosh maintains he merely parked his vehicle there like other neighbors.
Municipal Claims and Public Works
According to the municipality, Kadosh stored equipment on the land, installed a storage shed and a caravan, and fenced off the area, utilizing guard dogs among other methods. Officials noted that preparations for establishing a public parking lot with approximately 40 spaces have been underway for the past two years, with construction expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
The municipality emphasized that the parking lot project aligns with a broader policy to regulate public land usage and enforce municipal laws. Authorities noted that since Yariv Fisher assumed the mayoral office two years ago, several businesses operating unlawfully across the city, including along the coastline, have been shut down.
Official Responses and Background
Mayor Yariv Fisher stated:
"Since taking office, I announced that one of my primary goals is restoring law and order throughout the city. This is a fundamental condition for maintaining a healthy, functioning society where everyone is equal before the law. On my watch, there will be no turning a blind eye and no foot-dragging."
In response, Kadosh stated:
"I understand that the Herzliya municipality and Mayor Yariv Fisher are in distress and need to generate headlines. Instead of focusing on residents' security, they focus on publicity. I did not know that parking a car alongside other neighboring residents is considered 'usurpation.' It is simply disgraceful."
Kadosh, a Likud figure with past criminal convictions who has previously hosted senior party ministers at his home, asserted that all neighbors promptly removed their vehicles once the municipality announced the parking lot construction.
