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The Council

About the

The Council for the Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites was established in 1984 by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, based on a decision of the Knesset Education Committee. The organization was founded for the purpose of preserving and commemorating historical sites related to Israel’s pathway to independence, sites not covered by Israel’s Antiquities Law. 

In the mad rush for growth and development, historic buildings and sites were torn down to make room for new roads, bridges, cities, etc.  The public response to the destruction of historic buildings began in the 1960s with the destruction of the Herzliya Gymnasium (the country’s first Hebrew high school) in Tel Aviv and its replacement with the Shalom Meir Tower, Tel Aviv’s first skyscraper. While public backlash continued to rise following the destruction of this iconic Tel Aviv landmark, the protests did not truly gain influence until the establishment of the Council in 1984.

The Council chose the façade of the Herzliya Gymnasium as its symbol. It operated under the auspices of the Society for the Protection of Nature until 2008. On January 1, 2008, the council became an independent NGO and was given the name The Council for Conservation of Heritage Sites in Israel

Objectives of the Council are to:

  • Prevent demolition and promote physical conservation of buildings and heritage sites
  • Identify buildings, compounds and authentic remains of historic sites from the year 1700 onwards*, to protect and conserve them.
  • Build a national commitment to the conservation of historic heritage sites
  • Develop sites that stemmed from cultures that left their imprint on the land of Israel  and thereby  provide evidence of these cultures
  • Encourage organizations, authorities and institutions to initiate preservation and rehabilitation programs.
  • Raise awareness for the cultural need for conservation with educational and information dissemination programs in both the formal and informal education systems and among various sectors of the Israeli society

Areas of Activity

  • Preventing the destruction of historically signifiant buildings and sites
  • Conserving, preserving and restoring historical building and sites 
  • Raising awareness of the importance of conservation among the general public, as well as among top decision makers and professionals in the field of planning and execution
  • Legislation
  • Education
  • Cultivating relations with other conservation organizations in Israel and abroad
  • Creating and developing visitor centers and museums which tell the story of Israel’s pathway to independence-

 

Currently, the council has succeeded in preserving more than 180 sites around Israel, opening many of them to the public as museums and visitor center. The Council operates 10 of these sites directly, including:

  1.  Yellin House in Motza
  2. Ayalon Institute-Bullet Factory in Rehovot
  3. Minkov Citrus Orchard Museum in Rehovot
  4.  Mikve Israel Agricultural School
  5. Atlit Detention Camp
  6. The Valley Train Site – Kfar Yehoshua
  7.  Historic Nahalal Police Station
  8. Kinneret Courtyard
  9.  HaReut Museum
  10. Sarona Visitor Center 

 

The conservation of historic buildings and sites ensures that the achievements of the past and the bravery of Israel’s pioneers live on forever, so that we may learn from our history and use it to create a brighter future . As the late Yigal Allon said, “A nation that does not respect its past will have a dull present and an uncertain future.” 

Watch The Council Video