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The Israeli Sea
The sea is an iconic part of the Israeli landscape.
About half of Israel's residents live close to the sea—some right in coastal cities, while others can see the blue horizon where the sky meets the water from their windows or rooftops.
The other half will pass by it occasionally, on their way to one of the coastal cities or to the sea itself.
The sea is a constant presence in the Israeli experience throughout the year.
In the summer, people come to cool off and enjoy the sun, to swim, dive, and surf the waves. In other seasons, it is a place for atmosphere—walking on the sand, sitting on a balcony facing it, watching the sunset, and serving as a backdrop for a family event, for romance, and for a Facebook post.
The most present and largest is the Mediterranean Sea—from Nahariya in the north to Ashkelon in the south, a single coastline stretches 197 kilometers long, divided into many small beaches. Some of the beaches are private or deserted, while others are open to the general public who come in droves, mainly during the summer but not only then.
Besides the Mediterranean Sea, Israelis have another tiny coastline in the southern city of Eilat, which lies on the shores of the Red Sea. Eilat is detached from the rest of the country (a four-hour drive by car from the central region), and its remoteness makes it and its sea an attractive getaway for vacationers and revelers from Israel and around the world. Israelis also have "Sea of Galilee" and "Dead Sea"—these two are called seas, but they are actually two large lakes, limited in their area. Each of them offers its own unique character to Israelis and tourists.
The sea is full of associations that are familiar to every Israeli:
Matkot – A beach game with a small ball and large paddles, considered one of our national games. Two players in swimsuits hold paddles, hitting a tennis ball from one paddle to the other, and no bather in the sea will disturb the pairs of men or women who take over a patch of beach and jump in the sand.
Metsil (Lifeguard) – The one responsible for the safety of bathers. He is at their service only on "designated beaches," those that are permitted for swimming by law, and only during the official bathing seasons.
He has an elevated post, also called a "lifeguard shack" or "lifeguard tower"—from there he manages his kingdom.
He also has a Haskah, a unique rescue boat that has gone down in history as an Israeli patent, and he has several flags that he plants in the sand to declare the state of the sea: a black flag – the sea is too rough and it is forbidden to enter the water at all; a white flag – swimming is permitted and everything is fine; a red flag – this is an intermediate state, so-so, swimming is permitted but in a limited way close to the shore.
Mocher Ha-Artikim (Popsicle Hawker) – A peddler who walks around with a cooler selling popsicles or ice cream to bathers at an exorbitant price.
Medusah (Jellyfish) – A stinging marine creature that took the joy of sea bathing from Israelis and spoiled the pleasure of it. The jellyfish appeared on the country's beaches in the late 20th century and became a constant nuisance during the busiest summer months at sea.
And there is something else that exists on Israel's beaches and is probably unmatched in the Western world:
Separate beaches for men and women – On these beaches, swimming is permitted only for men or only for women. The separation takes place on specific days of the week during fixed seasons and is regulated by law and regulations, for the sake of religious bathers, from all religions, who maintain their modesty.
(A list of the separate beaches is at this link)
Besides all this, the sea is also a scorching sun, humidity, sunscreen, sandcastles, a breakwater, a crowded parking lot, towels in a variety of colors, and a display of men and women in swimsuits of all ages and body shapes.
The sea is a common backdrop for pre-wedding photo shoots. It has a few hours of grace a day, during which it streams a breeze to all who live near it, but it is also a source of unbearable humidity that envelops the residents of the coastal cities and the lowlands.
This is part of "The Israeli Story 1948-2025" project.
What is "The Israeli Story"?
A curated selection of Israeli snapshots, those that were and still are with us. Each one deserves an updated definition with a few words of explanation along with a tiny bit of history. Just a little – and all of them together go into the virtual Israeli Story that will remain online for future generations. You can see what's included in it by clicking on the icon below.
