The Israel Government has signed an agreement with Frederic R. Harris and Company, New York consulting engineers, to draw up working blueprints for a new harbor at Ashdod, 15 miles south of here.
The plans will cover the first stage of construction of a port to provide citrus loading facilities to cope with the increasing exports of the fruit from the southern part of the country. Cost of the initial stage of construction is estimated at 48, 000, 000 pounds ($26, 667, 000) in local currency and $10, 000, 000 in foreign exchange. Construction of the breakwater is expected to begin next year, with completion of the initial facilities scheduled for 1963.
The location of the new harbor will be near the site considered to be the burial place of Jonah. A lighthouse will be built at Nebi Younis–the highest elevation in the area–believed to be the spot where, according to the biblical account, Jonah was spewed by the whale.
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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.
