Israeli Lawmakers Decline to Close Beach Protection Loophole

Israeli lawmakers narrowly rejected an effort to ban new construction within about 100 yards of the country’s coastline.

The Knesset July 19, by a 42–40 vote, rejected an amendment to the 2004 Protection of the Coastal Environment law designed to close a loophole in the law that banned building along the country’s 115-mile Mediterranean seafront.

The law was not retroactive, so nearly 50 construction plans that were approved before the law was passed remain in force, including some dating from before the State of Israel was established in 1948, according to environmental groups.

The amendment, drafted by ...