Premier David Ben Gurion told the people of Elath, Israel’s port on the Gulf of Akaba, today that some day Elath will become “our homeland’s major port” despite attempts by Col. Nasser of Egypt, the Soviet Union and India to contest Israel’s right of free navigation.
In a message on the eighth anniversary of Israel’s liberation of the town, the Prime Minister declared that Elath’s development was one of the main objectives of the Sinai campaign Despite recognition of Israel’s right of freedom of navigation by the maritime nations, he said, “we cannot say that we have already achieved our aim…from a practical viewpoint.”
The Premier declared that “we must build a deep-water port at Elath and link Elath by a wide road and rail line with Beersheba and the ports in the North.” A string of villages must be erected along this road and a pipeline larger than the one now being laid should be placed. “Above all,” said Mr Ben Gurion, “Elath’s population must be increased.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
