Herzliya

Infobox Israel municipality
name=Herzliya


imgsize= 65


imgsize3= 200
caption3=Herzliya marina
hebname=Hebrew|הֶרְצְלִיָּה
arname=هرتسليا
meaning= named for Theodor Herzl
founded=1924
type=city
typefrom=
stdHeb=
altOffSp=Herzliya
altUnoSp=
district=ta
population=84,100
popyear=2006
area_dunam=26000
mayor= Yael German

Herzliya ( _he. הֶרְצְלִיָּה) is a city of 84,100 residents cite web|url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/population/new_2009/table3.pdf|publisher=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics|title=Table 3 - Population of Localities Numbering Above 1,000 Residents and Other Rural Population|date=2007-12-31|accessdate=2008-05-26] located on the central coast of Israel. It is part of the Tel Aviv District. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km². Within its municipal boundaries is Herzliya Pituah, one of Israel's most upscale neighborhoods, home to many ambassadors and foreign diplomats.

History

Herzliya, named after Theodor Herzl, [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1021009.html] was founded in 1924 as a semi-cooperative farming community (moshava) with a mixed population of new immigrants and veteran residents. After the establishment of the state in 1948, large numbers of immigrants settled there. In 1960, when the population reached 25,000, Herzliya was declared a city. [http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist+Information/Discover+Israel/Cities/Hertzeliya.htm]

Demographics

According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, residents of Herzliya are among the wealthiest in Israel. In 2003-2005, average monthly salaries were NIS 8,211, or about NIS 1,500 above average in a survey of Israel's 15 largest cities. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1021009.html] However, there is a large gap between the city's seven working class neighborhoods, among them Yad Tisha, Neve Yisrael and Neve Amal, and upscale Herzliya Pituah. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1021009.html] The population is older than that of other cities in the Sharon region: 18% are under 14 years old, compared to a national average of 27.5%. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1021009.html]

Education and culture

In a quality of life survey in 2008, Herzliya ranked second highest among Israel's 15 largest cities. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1021009.html] Investment in education was higher than all other cities in the survey and more high school students were eligible for a bagrut matriculation certificate. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1021009.html] The Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center is a private college that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in government, business administration, law, computer science and other academic disciplines. [http://www.idc.ac.il/ Interdisciplinary Center website] Israel's largest television and film studio, Ulpanei Herzliya (Herzliya Studios), is located in Herzliya. The Herzliya Marina was built in the 1970s. The city has a small airport (code: HRZ), three shopping malls (Arena Mall, Seven Stars Mall and the Outlet), movie theaters, museums, cultural centers and a stadium.

Herzliya conference

Since its inception in 2000, the Herzliya Conference has become an annual summit of the most influential Israeli and international leaders. The conference is attended by government ministers, Knesset members, senior defense officials, leaders of the Israeli business community, senior academicians, media representatives from Israel and abroad, delegates of world Jewish orgaizations, foreign dignitaries and Israeli diplomats. [http://www.herzliyaconference.org/Eng/_Articles/Article.asp?CategoryID=86&ArticleID=18]

Local government

In a 2008 survey of 15 Israeli cities, Herzliya ranked second in fiscal management. The Herzliya municipality ended 2006 with a sizeable budget surplus. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1021009.html]

Mayors

* Avraham Raphael Hirsch, 1937-1938
* Shimon ("Poppy") Levin, 1938-1943
* Ben Zion Michaeli, 1943-1960
* Pesah Yifher, 1960-1966
* Interim council led by Natan Rosenthal, 1966-1967
* Yosef Nevo, 1969-1983
* Yitzhak Avraham Landau, 1983-1998 (Likud)
* Yael German, 1998-present (Meretz)

Sports

Herzliya has two football clubs, Maccabi and Hapoel. Today, Maccabi plays in Ligat ha'Al, the top division of Israeli football. Hapoel is in Liga Alef, the fourth tier. Both clubs use the Municipal Stadium. The Bnei HaSharon basketball club plays its games in Herzliya and Ra'anana (the club was formed by a merger of the Herzliya and Ra'anana teams).

Landmarks

One of the founders' homes has been turned into a museum documenting the history of Herzliya. The Herzliya Museum of Art is part of the Yad Labanim memorial complex. West of Herzliya is Sidna Ali, a Muslim holy site. To the northwest is Tel Arsaf (Arsuf) and the Apollonia National Park. [http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist+Information/Discover+Israel/Cities/Hertzeliya.htm] Inhabited from the Persian period (2500 years ago) until the Crusader period (1,000 years ago), the site contains the remains of the Crusader town of Arsur, including a fortress surrounded by a moat. [http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist+Information/Discover+Israel/Cities/Hertzeliya.htm]

Herzliya Pituah

Some of Israel's most expensive homes and finest beaches are located in Herzliya Pituah, a neighborhood on the western side of Herzliya. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1021009.html] Herzliya Pituah is a sought-after venue for high-tech companies, and its marina, many restaurants and entertainment spots have turned this part of Herzliya into a vibrant hub of Israeli nightlife. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1021009.html]

Sister cities

*Flagicon|Spain Alicante, Spain
*Flagicon|Slovakia Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
*Flagicon|Turkey Bursa, Turkey
*Flagicon|USA Columbus, Ohio, United States
*Flagicon|Ukraine Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine
*Flagicon|Portugal Funchal, Portugal
*Flagicon|USA Hollywood, Florida, USA
*Flagicon|Germany Marl, Germany
*Flagicon|Argentina San Isidro, Argentina
*Flagicon|Peru San Isidro, Peru
*Flagicon|France Toulon, France

References

External links

* [http://www.herzliya.muni.il Official website] he icon
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Herzliya Wikitravel: Herzliya]
* [http://www.herzliyamuseum.co.il/ Herzliya Museum]
* [http://www.pbase.com/rdavid/herzliya Photos of Herzliya]
* [http://israelinphotos.com/gallery7-Herzliya.htm Pictures of Herzliya] - Israel in Photos

Virtual tours

* [http://www.3disrael.com/herzliya/arena_mall_HD.cfm Arena Shopping Mall]
* [http://www.3disrael.com/herzliya/marina_HD.cfm The Herzliya Marina]
* [http://www.3disrael.com/herzliya/marina_dock_HD.cfm The Herzliya Marina Dock]