Netanya, a vibrant city in Israel, is known as the city of tourism, diamonds, and sports. Its accessibility, whether by air or land, is excellent, with Jerusalem being just a one-hour drive away. Netanya provided the foundation for the International Golden Shell Folklore Festival. Through the Siófok-Netanya Friendship Society, close relationships have formed among several families. In addition to personal friendships, representatives from the cities regularly visit each other.
Netanya is a city in Israel, located 30 kilometers north of Tel Aviv. The city takes its name from Nathan Straus, a Jewish American merchant and philanthropist who lived in the early 20th century. Due to its geographical location (along the Mediterranean coast) and its beaches, Netanya is a popular tourist center. With a population of approximately 228,000 residents, Netanya is the 7th largest city in Israel by population.
The funds necessary for the city's construction project were collected by Itamar Ben-Avi and Oved Ben-Ami, who embarked on a fundraising trip to the United States to finance the Jewish settlement. In 1928, members of the organizations Bnei Binyamin and Hanotea purchased 350 hectares (1.4 square kilometers) of land. After discovering water in the area in 1929, settlers began arriving in Netanya. On December 3, 1948, Netanya was declared a city, becoming the first city designated in the newly established State of Israel. In the mid-20th century, there was a wave of Jewish immigration from Europe, other parts of the Middle East, and North Africa, which led to the growth of Netanya's population. In the 1980s, Netanya accounted for 10% of national tourism. The development of beachfront hotels continued, and tourism gradually increased. In the 1990s, a large number of immigrants from the former Soviet Union settled in Netanya, significantly expanding the city's population and resulting in extensive housing construction.
Siófok and Netanya established a twinning agreement in the spring of 1990, primarily focusing on educational and cultural cooperation, as well as mutual hospitality for student groups. Netanya provided the fundamental idea for the renowned Golden Shell Folklore Festival.
Netanya is home to the Poleg Nature Reserve and the Irises Dora Rainpool Nature Park, which hosts the world's largest population of coastal irises (iris atropurpurea), offering a marvelous sight. The iconic plant is also featured in the city's emblem.
The Well House is a museum that documents the early history of Netanya. It is housed in a historic building dating back to 1928.
The city's approximately 11 kilometers of coastline boasts one of the most beautiful stretches along the Israeli Mediterranean coast, with the beach backed by towering cliffs that can reach up to 30 meters in height.
The city aims to become a significant tourism hub for both local and overseas visitors, with a vision of creating an "Israeli Riviera" along its shoreline.
Notable people:
Imre "Imi" Lichtenfeld: Hungarian-born Israeli martial artist and founder of Krav Maga.
Sagi Muki: Middleweight judoka and 2019 world champion.
Yarden Gerbi: World champion and Olympic bronze medalist in judo.
