Beit Yanai – holiday village
In HOME BY THE SEA / house by the sea, you will find holiday homes in the village of Beit Yanai.
On the beach, you can see the remains of the Kfar Vitkin Pier that was built in 1938. The reputation of the beach/pier came from the “Altalena Affair” – a violent confrontation that took place in June 1948 between the newly created Israel Defense Forces and the Irgun, one of the Jewish paramilitary groups that were in the process of merging to form the IDF. The confrontation involved a cargo ship, Altalena, which had been loaded with weapons and fighters by the independent Irgun but arrived during the murky period of the Irgun’s absorption into the IDF. While the Irgun proposed directing the Altalena to Tel Aviv beach, Ministry of Defense representatives claimed that the Kfar Vitkin (Beit Yanai) beach was preferable, since it would be easier to evade UN observers there. The ship was therefore instructed to make for Kfar Vitkin. The Altalena reached Kfar Vitkin in the late afternoon of Sunday, June 20, 1948. Among the Irgun members waiting on the shore was Menachem Begin, who greeted the arrivals with great emotion. After the passengers had disembarked, members of the fishing village of Michmoret helped unload the cargo of military equipment. Concomitantly with the events at Kfar Vitkin, the government had convened in Tel Aviv for its weekly meeting. The debate ended in a resolution to empower the army to use force if necessary to overcome the Irgun and to confiscate the ship and its cargo.
Begin had meanwhile boarded the Altalena, which was headed for Tel Aviv where the Irgun had more supporters. The Altalena was sunk after arriving in Tel Aviv against the Israeli government’s orders.
You can also visit the Beit Yanai “Lake” which was formed during the building of the Interchange and was filled with ground water, thus creating a large pond with water plants and birds. A wooden walkway lets you watch closely on what is happening in the pond, and all within walking distance from the homes of house by the sea.
Beit Yanai is known as one of the most beautiful places in the country, where houses are built on the overhanging cliff overlooking the sea.
There is nothing like a sunset trip to the cliff, with the sea breeze caresses.
On the beach, you can find the legendary restaurant “fish of the sea” where you can enjoy fresh seafood and more.