A coastal refuge born of escape and rebuilt by fire

Wars & Conflicts · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1935, Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany settled on a stretch of Israeli coast to build a new life. What began as a failed agricultural experiment evolved into a resilient resort town and industrial hub, enduring constant bombardment from across the border for decades.

Nahariya was officially founded on February 10, 1935, by German Jewish immigrants seeking safety from Nazi persecution. The settlement was spearheaded by a group of professionals, including agronomist Selig Eugen Soskin and engineer Simon Reich, who acquired land from the Toueini family. While the initial vision was to establish an agricultural village, the residents quickly discovered that farming was impractical due to economic and climatic obstacles. They pivoted to tourism and the food industry, transforming the area into a European-style resort and establishing major industrial landmarks like the Strauss dairy and the Soglowek meat processing company.

The city's history is layered with ancient and medieval conflict. Archaeologists discovered a 3,400-year-old Bronze Age citadel at Khirbet Kabarsa, which served as a maritime administrative center with cultural ties to Cyprus. This fortress was destroyed by fire four separate times and rebuilt each time. During the Byzantine era, archaeologists unearthed a place of worship named after St. Lazarus. Archaeologists found a Byzantine-era shrine to St. Lazarus in the 1970s; flames from a 614 Persian raid likely ruined it.

In the modern era, Nahariya's proximity to the Lebanese border—just 9.6 km away—has made it a frequent target of cross-border attacks. During the 1970s, the city faced mortar and Katyusha rocket fire. This escalated during the 2006 Lebanon War, when hundreds of rockets launched by Hezbollah caused five fatalities and forced two-thirds of the population to evacuate. Even with such recurring ruin, the town stays a vital commercial hub, containing industrial leaders such as Iscar, bought by Berkshire Hathaway for US$5 billion.

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