Comprehensive information and links about Israel Bat Yam

Bat Yam ) is a city in Israel, on the central coastal strip, just south of Tel Aviv, and part of the metropolis known as Gush Dan, in the Tel Aviv District.

It was established in 1926 as "Bayit Va-Gan" (heb. בית וגן, House and Garden), a neighbourhood dedicated to Orthodox Jews. However, the original plan didn't come true. During the 1929 riots, Bayit Va-Gan came under attacks by Arab gangs from neighbouring Jaffa and was evacuated by British Authorities, then was reestablished in 1930. In 1938 the name of the neighbourhood was changed to Bat Yam. In the beginning of the Israeli War of Independence, once again there was fighting in Bat-Yam, until Jaffa surrendered at May 13, 1948.

In the first decades of Israel's independence Bat Yam grew due to mass immigration, becoming a city in 1958. It experienced a rapid growth again in early 90s, as many immigrants from former Soviet Union chose Bat Yam as their new residence because of its proximity to industrial centers of the country combined with relatively low real estate prices. According to Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, the city population as of June 2005 is some 130.000 people.

The key feature of Bat Yam is its beautiful beach, attracting tourists every summer.

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