The Knesset has passed the first reading of a bill, sponsored by Eli Gabbai of the NRP, to merge the towns of Caesarea and Ohr Akiva. The bill passed by a 32-4 vote, following a Cabinet decision to this effect three months ago. The bill must still pass two additional readings, held almost simultaneously, in order to become law.
Caesarea is considered an upper-class beachfront resort town on the Mediterranean, while Ohr Akiva, immediately to its east, is populated largely by working-class strata. They are located some ten kilometers north of Hadera.
Caesarea is municipally run by the Ceasaria Foundation and a development company founded by Baron de Rothschild, the only locality in Israel to be run in this manner. Its population is approximately 4,500, while Ohr Akiva's is roughly 16,000.
Ceasaea was originally one of the most important Roman Empire cities, and was later a Crusader fortress along the road from Acre to Jerusalem. A large Roman theater built by King Herod is still in use today for concerts and shows.
The Interior Ministry has long had a policy of trying to reduce the number of local councils, merging small pairs of towns into one wherever possible. Specifically, the goal is to do away with independent entities that have fewer than 10,000 residents. However, most of the Ministry's suggestions and initiatives in this regard are thwarted by local interests who oppose the merge.
MK Gabbai (National Religious Party), the bill's sponsor, explained, "The State of Israel cannot afford to support only strong populations, and must act to close the gaps between the various sectors." He admitted that property taxes in Ohr Akiva will rise in the short term, but promised a corresponding drop later, as well as an improvement in various municipal services.