“Mass immigration and continued economic growth in Israel depend on the fullest development and use of Elath, Israel’s part of the Gulf of Akaba. For this reason, Israel is prepared to keep the Gulf of Akaba open at any cost, ‘ Hanoch Nenner, mayor of the new harbor city at the southernmost tip of the Negev, declared today at a press conference.
Stressing the fact that Elath is Israel’s “gateway to trade with Asia and Africa, ” Mayor Nenner declared that the Government of Israel relies heavily on the success of the $75, 000, 000 Israel bond sale this year to provide for enlarging the harbor of Elath and for the construction of a new Elath to Beersheba railroad.
“Immigration at the present rate is proceeding at a rate of more than 100, 000 a year and the natural population increase is 40, 000, ” the Mayor said, Consequently, at this rate we shall be within easy reach of 3, 000, 000 in five years. However, such a large-scale increase in population will require a mass settlement program of great magnitude in the vast unpopulated area north of Elath. We estimate that 500, 000 persons can be settled in the part of the Negev which lies between Beersheba and Elath. But this will require extensive irrigation, housing and agricultural and industrial projects, which will have to be financed to a large part by the Israel bond campaign.
“We look forward to the day when Elath will rank with Haifa as a trade center. In fact, we anticipate that Elath will some day overtake Haifa, and become Israel’s key center for foreign commerce. We foresee for Elath a three-fold role of major importance: as a resort area, as an industrial center, and as a port, ” Mayor Nenner declared.
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