A three-way celebration, attended by Premier David Ben Gurion, took place in Eilat yesterday. The ancient town, located at the southern most tip of Israel on the Gulf of Aqaba, marked the laying of a cornerstone for a 50-unit housing development, inauguration of a telephone line and the launching of a water supply line.
Premier Ben Gurion, speaking at one of the dedication ceremonies, said: “I saw something today which has not occurred since the Almighty created heaven and earth–water flowing in the arid desert.” Participating in the ceremonies were also Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., Aubrey S. Eban; former Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Yaacov Dori; and Chaim Halpern, director-general of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The new pipeline at Eilat will provide a constant supply of water to Israel’s southernmost point, including water for agricultural needs now in experimental stages. The water source was discovered after borings were undertaken near an old Arab well. The new source provides 100 cubic meters of water hourly. Experts believe that additional borings will turn up even larger quantities of water resources.
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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.
