The intersection of Ben Gurion and Amagenim streets serves as the central hub of the German Colony in Haifa. It emerged in the second half of the 19th century due to the efforts of the Templers, a German religious movement committed to promoting and developing the Holy Land. During World War I, the British authorities deported the local German population to Egypt, allowing them to return only in the mid-1920s. In the 1930s, support for Hitler became overt in the area, with posters displayed around the central square stating that entry was prohibited for Jews and dogs.
With the onset of World War II, the British once again deported the local German community, this time to Australia, and they did not return after the war. Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, diplomatic relations with post-war Germany were challenging, particularly following the Holocaust, which resulted in the deaths of six million Jews. However, then-Prime Minister David Ben Gurion successfully established diplomatic ties with Germany and convinced the Israeli public of their importance.
Notably, this intersection was the site of the first traffic light in Haifa. Today, it features a Christmas tree and a menorah, symbols of coexistence among Christians, Jews, and Muslims in Haifa. This harmonious relationship is celebrated during the Holiday of Holidays, a week-long festivity in late December when all three religions observe their respective holidays simultaneously.
The route starts from the Golden Crown Hotel and the City shopping center, runs up Ben Gurion Street through the houses of Schumacher and Olifant, the historic Colony Hotel, the lower terrace of Bahai Gardens, the Song Street, Dojan Restaurant, the burgher-style restaurant, the German Colony Community House and the current City Museum and ends at the bottom of the German colony at the intersection of Jaffa and Ben Gurion streets.
