The incidents reported as collateral damage during the Iranian missile barrage on Israel earlier this week have culminated in a profound loss for the Simantov family. Fragments from intercepted missiles fell between Sunday and Monday night, striking the unique white lily plot at their Seeds from Zion nursery and inflicting severe damage on a rare conservation project that has spanned more than two decades.
The initiative began in 2004 when engineering works on the Carmel tunnels uncovered bulbs of a rare white lily. The Simantov family, with the approval of the Nature and Parks Authority, transferred the bulbs to preserve the species. Through tissue culture techniques, they expanded the stock to thousands of new bulbs—some reintroduced to the wild in Carmel, others maintained at the nursery for continued propagation and conservation.
“When we first started, we had only a handful of bulbs,” says Zion Simantov. “Today we possess tens of thousands. We are effectively the sole custodians in the country of the original Carmel white lily, not a commercial variety but the authentic wild plant that returns to its natural habitat in the Carmel and other suitable sites across Israel.”
Just a month and a half ago, the plot reached its peak.
“After twelve years of anticipation, we witnessed an extraordinary bloom—flowers towering a meter high. Thousands flocked to view, photograph, and be moved. We expected a substantial seed harvest to sustain and expand the project.”
The morning after the missile attack, the harsh reality set in.
“Our dedicated Thai workers called and instructed me to visit the site immediately,” Simantov recalled. “We discovered a sizable crater—about six meters in diameter—situated directly within the plot. Parts of the area were blown away, and the damage spreads over hundreds of meters.”
Subsequently, police officers and Border Police units arrived.
“They surveyed the hole, documented the scene, collected the debris, and left,” Simantov recounted. “No government officials have yet arrived to assess the damage itself.”
Representatives from the Property Tax Authority are expected next week.
“That’s precisely the issue,” he said. “This isn’t like an orange grove where you can tally up trees and compute value. This is something unique, with virtually no equivalent in the country. An expert needs to evaluate what transpired above and below ground.”
Hidden Damage and Uncertain Future
Simantov explained that much of the harm is subterranean. White lily bulbs necessitate many years to mature and bloom.
“We still don’t know how many bulbs were destroyed,” he said. “It could be hundreds, thousands. Only in months or even years will the full extent reveal itself.”
Hila Friedman, Zion’s daughter who co‑manages the nursery, emphasized that the loss transcends finances.
“This is not merely an agricultural plot. It is heritage, nature conservation, and the legacy of my father’s decades of dedication.”
The Road Ahead
While awaiting an official damage assessment, the family holds hope that some bulbs survived.
“We refuse to surrender,” Simantov said. “Yet it is clear that the path to restoration will be long. What was obliterated in an instant took us more than twenty years to build.”