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Eilat

Eilat (/ˈlɑːt/ ay-LAHT, UK also /ˈlæt/ ay-LAT; Hebrew: אֵילַת [eˈlat] ; Arabic: إِيلَات, romanizedĪlāt) is Israel's southernmost city, with a population of 52,753,[1] a busy port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan as the Gulf of Aqaba. The city is considered a tourist destination for domestic and international tourists heading to Israel.

Eilat
אילת
إيلات
From upper left: Eilat coastline at night (×2), evening view of Eilat marina, view of Eilat North Beach, view from the promenade to the outskirts and the surrounding mountains of Eilat.
Eilat
Eilat
Coordinates: 29°33′25″N 34°57′06″E / 29.55694°N 34.95167°E / 29.55694; 34.95167
Country Israel
DistrictSouthern
Founded7000 BCE (Earliest settlements)
1951 (Israeli city)
Government
 • MayorMeir Yitzhak Halevi
Area
 • Total84,789 dunams (84.789 km2 or 32.737 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total52,753
 • Density620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Websitewww.eilat.muni.il

Eilat is part of the Southern Negev Desert, at the southern end of the Arabah, adjacent to the Egyptian resort city of Taba to the south, the Jordanian port city of Aqaba to the east, and within sight of Haql, Saudi Arabia, across the gulf to the southeast.

Eilat's arid desert climate and low humidity are moderated by proximity to a warm sea. Temperatures often exceed 40 °C (104 °F) in summer, and 21 °C (70 °F) in winter, while water temperatures range between 20 and 26 °C (68 and 79 °F). Eilat averages 360 sunny days a year.[2]

Name

The name Eilat was given to the abandoned frontier post of Umm al-Rashrāsh (أم الرشراش) in 1949 by the Committee for the Designation of Place-Names in the Negev, referring to Elath, a location mentioned in the Hebrew Bible that is thought to be located nearby in modern Jordan. One committee member, Yeshayahu Press, stated "when the real Eilat finally is in our hands, our settlement will expand and reach over to there."[3]

Geography

 
Eilat aerial view

The geology and landscape are varied: igneous and metamorphic rocks, sandstone and limestone; mountains up to 892 metres (2,927 ft) above sea level; broad valleys such as the Arava, and seashore on the Gulf of Aqaba. With an annual average rainfall of 28 millimetres (1.1 in) and summer temperatures of 40 °C (104 °F) and higher, water resources and vegetation are limited. "The main elements that influenced the region's history were the copper resources and other minerals, the ancient international roads that crossed the area, and its geopolitical and strategic position. These resulted in a settlement density that defies the environmental conditions."[4]

History

 
On the left a map drawn by the first foreigner to explore the area in modern times with current borders overlaid; modern Eilat is located between the mountain "Gatal Mahamar" and the area labelled "marais saumâtre" (brackish marsh). On the right, an early Israeli map drawn shortly after the founding of modern Eilat.
Historical "Elath" / Ayla is located at Aqaba, in Jordan; the Israeli map includes the words Hebrew: אֵילַת הרומאית, lit.'Roman Eilat'. The mound shown on the 1822 map as "Ruines d'Elana" is today known as Tell el-Kheleifeh, speculated to be Biblical Ezion-Geber; it is shown on the Israeli map as Hebrew: עֶצְיֹן גֶּבֶר, lit.'Ezion-Geber'. The mountain peak named "Gebel Gatal Mahamar" in 1822 is named Hebrew: הַר שְׁלֹמֹה, lit.'Mount Solomon' in the Israeli map

Early history

Archaeological excavations uncovered impressive prehistoric tombs dating to the 7th millennium BC at the western edge of Eilat, while nearby copper workings and mining operations at Timna Valley are one of the oldest on earth.[5]

An Islamic copper smelting and trading community of 250–400 residents flourished in the area during the Umayyad Period (700–900 CE); its remains were found and excavated in 1989, at the northern edge of modern Eilat, between what is now the industrial zone and nearby Kibbutz Eilot.[6]

Modern city

During the British Mandate era, a British police post existed in the area, which was known as Umm Al-Rashrash. The area was designated as part of the Jewish state in the 1947 UN Partition Plan. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the abandoned police post, which consisted of five clay huts, was taken without a fight on March 10, 1949, as part of Operation Uvda.[7][8] This marked the end of Israel's war for independence. The memorial at the historical place of March 1949 was declared a National Heritage Site in 1994.

The town developed over the following years. Eilat Airport was built in 1949 and individual ships began arriving in the 1950s, but as there were no dedicated port facilities they unloaded their goods at sea. In the early 1950s, Eilat was a small and remote town, populated largely by port workers, soldiers, and former prisoners. The town's development accelerated in 1955, when it had a population of about 500. The Timna Copper Mines[9] near the Timna Valley and the Port of Eilat were opened that year and concerted effort by the Israeli government to populate Eilat began, starting with Jewish immigrant families from Morocco being resettled there. Eilat began to develop rapidly after the Suez Crisis in 1956, with its tourism industry in particular starting to flourish. The Israeli Navy's Eilat naval base was founded that year.[10] The town's population grew to 5,300 in 1961. Yoseftal Medical Center and the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline were completed in 1968, and the population increased further, reaching 13,100 in 1972 and 18,900 in 1983.

 
Eilat in 1963

After the 1948 Arab–Israeli War Arab countries maintained a state of hostility with Israel, blocking all land routes; Israel's access to and trade with the rest of the world was by air and sea alone. Further, Egypt denied passage through the Suez Canal to Israeli-registered ships or to any ship carrying cargo to or from Israeli ports. This made Eilat and its sea port crucial to Israel's communications, commerce and trade with Africa and Asia, and for oil imports. Without recourse to a port on the Red Sea Israel would have been unable to develop its diplomatic, cultural and trade ties beyond the Mediterranean basin and Europe. This happened in 1956 and again in 1967, when Egypt's closure of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping effectively blockaded the port of Eilat.

In 1956, this led to Israel's participation alongside Britain and France in the war against Egypt sparked by the Suez Crisis, while in 1967 90% of Israeli oil passed through the Straits of Tiran.[11] Oil tankers that were due to pass through the straits were delayed.[12][13] The straits' closure was cited by Israel as an additional casus belli leading to the outbreak of the Six-Day War. Following peace treaties signed with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, Eilat's borders with its neighbors were finally opened.

 
The raising of the Ink Flag, when the land upon which Eilat was built was captured during Operation Uvda

Israeli–Arab conflict

Eilat is especially defended by its own special forces unit Lotar Eilat. It is a reservist special forces unit of the IDF trained in counter-terrorism and hostage rescue in the Eilat area, which has taken part in many counter-terrorist missions in the region since its formation in 1974. The Lotar unit is composed solely of reservists, citizens who must be Eilat residents between the ages of 20 and 60, who are on call in case of a terrorist attack on the city. It is one of only three units in the IDF authorized to free hostages on its own command.[14][15] In 2007 the Eilat bakery bombing killed three civilian bakers.[16][17] This was the first such attack in Eilat proper,[18] although other terror attacks had been carried out in the area.[19]

In 2011, terrorists infiltrated Israel across the Sinai border to execute multiple attacks on Highway 12, including a civilian bus and private car a few miles north of Eilat, in what became known as the 2011 southern Israel cross-border attacks.[20][21]

In order to prevent terrorist infiltration of Israel from the Sinai, Israel has built the Egypt–Israel barrier, a steel barrier equipped with cameras, radar and motion sensors along the country's southern border.[22] The fence was completed in January 2013.[23]

Future development plans

 
Eilat's north beach

In July 2012, Israel signed an agreement with China to cooperate in building the high-speed railway to Eilat, a railway line which will serve both passenger and freight trains. It will link Eilat with Beersheba and Tel Aviv, and will run through the Arava Valley and Nahal Zin.[24]

The former Eilat Airport was closed on 18 March 2019 after the opening of Ramon Airport. The land occupied by the former airport is to be redeveloped. The new Ramon Airport opened in January 2019, 18 kilometres (11 miles) north of Eilat and replaced both Eilat Airport and the civilian use of Ovda Airport.[25] Hotels and apartment buildings, containing a total of 2,080 hotel rooms and 1,000 apartments will be constructed on the site, as well as 275 dunams of public space and pedestrian paths. The plans also set aside space for the railway line and an underground railway station. The plan's goal is to create an urban continuum between the city center and North Beach, as well as tighten the links between the city's neighborhoods, which were separated by the airport.[26]

In addition, there are plans to move the Port of Eilat and the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline terminal to the northern part of the city, as well as to turn it into a university town of science and research, and brand it an international sports city. All these projects are part of a plan to increase Eilat's population to 150,000 people and build 35,000 hotel rooms.[27]

Climate

Eilat has a hot desert climate (BWh[28] with hot, dry summers and warm and almost rainless winters in Köppen climate classification). Winters are usually between 11–23 °C (52–73 °F). Summers are usually between 26–40 °C (79–104 °F). There are relatively small coral reefs near Eilat; however, 50 years ago[when?] they were much larger.[citation needed]

Climate data for Eilat (Temperature: 1987–2010, Precipitation: 1980–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.2
(90.0)
35.8
(96.4)
38.7
(101.7)
43.4
(110.1)
45.2
(113.4)
47.4
(117.3)
48.3
(118.9)
48.0
(118.4)
45.0
(113.0)
44.3
(111.7)
38.1
(100.6)
33.6
(92.5)
48.3
(118.9)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 26.3
(79.3)
29.3
(84.7)
32.8
(91.0)
38.2
(100.8)
42.1
(107.8)
43.6
(110.5)
44.1
(111.4)
43.2
(109.8)
41.9
(107.4)
39.7
(103.5)
33.4
(92.1)
28.0
(82.4)
44.1
(111.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 21.3
(70.3)
23.0
(73.4)
26.1
(79.0)
31.0
(87.8)
35.7
(96.3)
38.9
(102.0)
40.4
(104.7)
40.0
(104.0)
37.3
(99.1)
33.1
(91.6)
27.7
(81.9)
23.0
(73.4)
31.5
(88.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.8
(60.4)
17.4
(63.3)
20.5
(68.9)
24.7
(76.5)
29.1
(84.4)
32.0
(89.6)
33.8
(92.8)
33.7
(92.7)
31.3
(88.3)
27.4
(81.3)
22.0
(71.6)
17.1
(62.8)
25.4
(77.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 10.4
(50.7)
11.8
(53.2)
14.6
(58.3)
18.4
(65.1)
22.5
(72.5)
25.2
(77.4)
27.3
(81.1)
27.4
(81.3)
25.2
(77.4)
21.8
(71.2)
16.3
(61.3)
11.9
(53.4)
19.4
(66.9)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 5.9
(42.6)
7.4
(45.3)
10.1
(50.2)
13.4
(56.1)
17.7
(63.9)
21.5
(70.7)
24.8
(76.6)
24.8
(76.6)
22.0
(71.6)
17.4
(63.3)
11.5
(52.7)
7.5
(45.5)
5.9
(42.6)
Record low °C (°F) 1.2
(34.2)
0.9
(33.6)
3.0
(37.4)
8.4
(47.1)
12.1
(53.8)
18.5
(65.3)
20.0
(68.0)
19.4
(66.9)
18.6
(65.5)
9.2
(48.6)
5.3
(41.5)
2.5
(36.5)
0.9
(33.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 4
(0.2)
3
(0.1)
3
(0.1)
2
(0.1)
1
(0.0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
4
(0.2)
2
(0.1)
5
(0.2)
24
(1)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 2.1 1.8 1.6 0.9 0.7 0 0 0 0 0.7 0.8 1.9 10.5
Average relative humidity (%) 32 28 25 19 16 15 17 18 23 27 29 33 24
Mean monthly sunshine hours 229.4 237.3 251.1 273 319.3 324 347.2 347.2 291 282.1 246 217 3,364.6
Source: Israel Meteorological Service[29][30][31][32]
Eilat mean sea temperature[33]
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
22 °C (72 °F) 21 °C (70 °F) 21 °C (70 °F) 23 °C (73 °F) 25 °C (77 °F) 26 °C (79 °F) 28 °C (82 °F) 28 °C (82 °F) 28 °C (82 °F) 27 °C (81 °F) 25 °C (77 °F) 23 °C (73 °F)

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1955500—    
19615,300+960.0%
197213,100+147.2%
198318,900+44.3%
199532,500+72.0%
200847,300+45.5%
201750,724+7.2%
Source: CBS[34]

The overwhelming majority of Eilat's population are Jews. Arabs constitute about 4% of the population.[35] Eilat's population includes a large number of foreign workers, estimated at over 10,000 working as caregivers, hotel workers and in the construction trades. Eilat also has a growing Israeli Arab population, as well as many affluent Jordanians and Egyptians who visit Eilat in the summer months.

In 2007, over 200 Sudanese refugees from Egypt who arrived in Israel illegally on foot were given work and allowed to stay in Eilat.[36][37][38]

Education

The educational system of Eilat accommodates more than 9,000 youngsters in eight day-care centers, 67 pre-kindergartens and kindergartens, 10 elementary schools, and 3 six-year high schools. Also, there are some special-education schools and religious schools.[39] Ben Gurion University of the Negev maintains a campus in Eilat. The Eilat branch has 1,100 students, about 75 percent from outside the city. In 2010, a new student dormitory was funded and built by the Jewish Federation of Toronto, the Rashi Foundation, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the municipality of Eilat.[40] The SPNI's Eilat Field School on the outskirts of Eilat offers special hiking tours that focus on desert ecology, the Red Sea, bird migration and other aspects of Eilat's flora and fauna.[41] The Hesder Yeshiva Ayelet Hashachar, is based in Eilat, established in 1997.[42]

Healthcare

Yoseftal Medical Center, established in 1968, is Israel's southernmost hospital, and the only hospital covering the southern Negev. With 65 beds, the hospital is Israel's smallest. Special services geared to the Red Sea region are a hyperbaric chamber to treat victims of diving accidents and kidney dialysis facilities open to vacationing tourists.[43]

Transportation

Air

Since 2019, Ramon International Airport has handled commercial domestic and international flights to Eilat (IATA: ETM, ICAO: LLER).

Former airports

  • Eilat Airport is located in the city centre and was used largely for domestic flights[44] (IATA: ETH, ICAO: LLET). The former site is to be redeveloped.
  • International flights often used Ovda International Airport some 50 kilometres (31 mi) northwest of the city[45] (IATA: VDA, ICAO: LLOV). While no civilian flights use the airport any longer, it remains in use as a military airbase and for aircraft storage.

Road

Eilat has two main roads connecting it with the center of Israel - Route 12, which leads North West, and Route 90 which leads North East, and South West to the border crossing with Egypt.

Bus

Egged, the national bus company, provides regular service to points north on an almost hourly basis as well as in-city on a half-hourly basis during daylight hours. In part due to the comparatively long travel times, there are different booking procedures for buses to Eilat, including the option of advance reservations.[46][47][48]

Border crossings with Egypt and Jordan

Maritime

The Port of Eilat and Eilat Marina allow travel by sea.

Rail

Future plans also call for a rail link, sometimes referred to as the Med-Red[49] to decrease travel times substantially from Eilat to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, via the existing line at Beer Sheba; planning is underway. As of 2021 Dimona railway station is the southernmost passenger train station in Israel.[50]

Economy

In the 1970s tourism became increasingly important to the city's economy as other industries shut down or were drastically reduced. Today tourism is the city's major source of income, although Eilat became a free trade zone in 1985.[51]

Tourism

 
Eilat Sports Center, a $3 million project, was completed in 2013.

Eilat offers a wide range of accommodations, from hostels and luxury hotels to Bedouin hospitality. In recent years Eilat has been the target of militants from Egypt and Gaza causing a reduced tourist inflow to the region. Attractions include:

  • Birdwatching and ringing station: Eilat is located on the main migration route between Africa and Europe. International Birding & Research Center in Eilat.[52]
  • Camel tours
  • Coral Beach Nature Reserve, an underwater marine reserve of tropical marine flora and fauna
  • Coral World Underwater Observatory, located at the southern tip of Coral Beach, it has aquaria, a museum, simulation rides, and shark, turtle, and stingray tanks. The observatory is the biggest public aquarium in the Middle East.[53]
  • Dolphin Reef, a marine biology and research station where visitors can swim and interact with dolphins[54]
  • Freefall parachuting.
  • Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve, established in the 1960s to conserve endangered species, including Biblical animals, from this and similar regions. The reserve has a visitors' center, care and treatment enclosures, and large open area where desert animals are acclimated before re-introduction into the wild. Hai-Bar efforts have successfully re-introduced the Asian wild ass, or onager, into the Negev.[55] The Hai-Bar Nature Reserve and animal re-introduction program were described in Bill Clark's book "High Hills and Wild Goats: Life Among the Animals of the Hai-Bar Wildlife Refuge". The book also describes life in Eilat and the surrounding area.[56]
  • Marina, with some 250 yacht berths
  • Timna Valley Park, the oldest copper mines in the world; Egyptian temple of Hathor, King Solomon's Pillars sandstone formation, ancient pit mines and rock art[57]
  • "What's Up", a portable astronomical observatory with programs in the desert and on the promenade[58]
  • Ice Mall, ice skating rink and shopping mall

Dive tourism

 
Coral World Underwater Observatory
 
Eilat sea

Skin and scuba diving equipment is for hire on or near all major beaches. Scuba diving equipment rental and compressed air are available from diving clubs and schools all year round. Eilat is located in the Gulf of Aqaba, one of the most popular diving destinations in the world. The coral reefs along Eilat's coast remain relatively pristine and the area is recognized as one of the prime diving locations in the world.[59] About 250,000 dives are performed annually in Eilat's 11 km (6.8 mi) coastline, and diving represents 10% of the tourism income of this area.[60] In addition, given the proximity of many of these reefs to the shore, non-divers can encounter the Red Sea's reefs with relative ease.[59] Water conditions for SCUBA divers are good all year round, with water temperatures around 21–25 °C (70–77 °F), with little or no currents and clear waters with an average of 20–30 metres (66–98 feet) visibility.

Museums

Film

Eilat has been utilized by film and television productions - domestic and foreign - for location shooting since the 1960s, most notably in the early 90s as a tropical locale for season 2 of the Canadian production Tropical Heat.

It was also used in the films She, Madron, Ashanti and Rambo III.

Archaeology

Despite harsh conditions, the region has supported large populations as far back as 8,000 BCE.[citation needed]

Exploration of ancient sites began in 1861, but only 7% of the area has undergone serious archaeological excavation. Some 1,500 ancient sites are located in a 1,200-square-kilometer (460 sq mi) area. In contrast to the gaps found in settlement periods in the neighbouring Negev Highlands and Sinai, these sites show continuous settlement for the past 10,000 years.[citation needed]

Notable people

 
Shahar Tzuberi

Twin towns – sister cities

Eilat is twinned with:[61]

Eilat has streets named after Antibes, Durban, Kamen, Kampen and Los Angeles as well as a Canada Park.

Panoramic views

 
Eilat coastline at night
 
Panorama of the Eilat Mountains

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  2. ^ Discovering the World of the Bible, LaMar C. Berrett, (Cedar Fort 1996), page 204
  3. ^ Eretz Magazine (3 June 2018), Editorial, The Names Committee 2020-09-22 at the Wayback Machine: "The issue of Eilat took up another chunk of the committee’s time. In 1949, Eilat did not exist. The city was founded only in 1952. But a place by the name of Eilat appears time and again in the biblical record. It was one of the stations in the wanderings of the people of Israel during the exodus from Egypt. King Solomon built ships on the shore of the Sea of Sof, in the land of Edom at Etzion Gever, which is Eilat. King Azariya of Judah built the city of Eilat, and so on and so forth. However, the location of this place called Eilat or Etzion Gaver remained unclear. On the shore of the gulf, where the big shopping mall of Eilat is today, a small adobe hut stood. The hut served as a British police station called Umm Rashrash. “On the map,” Yeivin explained, “we see a place called Umm Rashrash and next to it the name Eilat. But Eilat was not here. Biblical and Roman Eilat were across the border in Jordan. The name Eilat should be erased from the map.”; “We cannot give up Eilat,” Press retorted, “when the real Eilat finally is in our hands, our settlement will expand and reach over to there.” David Amiran, the geographer, suggested that Eilat should be the name of the settlement that would be built on the shore of the gulf, which should be called the Gulf of Eilat. Ben-Zvi was for eliminating Umm Rashrash from the map together with Etzion Gaver. Eilat is Eilat, he said, musing that maybe the committee should call Umm Rashrash Etzion Gaver and establish Eilat elsewhere. The committee ultimately decided to replace the name Umm Rashrash with Eilat. Etzion Gaver was commemorated on the map by dubbing a well along the coast Be’er Etzion Gever. Today the well is buried under the artificial lagoon in Eilat."
  4. ^ Avner, U. 2008. Eilat Region. In, A. Stern (ed.). The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavation in the Holy Land, Volume 5 (Supplementary). Jerusalem. 1704–1711.
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  12. ^ Avi Shlaim; William Roger Louis (13 February 2012). The 1967 Arab-Israeli War: Origins and Consequences. Cambridge University Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-107-00236-4. from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
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  16. ^ Suicide Bomb Kills 3 in Bakery in Israel 2018-12-15 at the Wayback Machine – The New York Times, Jan 29, 2007
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  18. ^ "Peretz orders IDF to prepare for operations in Gaza". The Jerusalem Post. January 29, 2007. from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  19. ^ "Past terror attacks in the Eilat area". Haaretz. January 29, 2007. from the original on April 18, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  20. ^ Harel, Amos (September 2, 2011). "September songs". Haaretz. from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
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  22. ^ Joel Greenberg (2011-12-02). "On Israel's uneasy border with Egypt, a fence rises". Washington Post. from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  23. ^ Amos Harel (2011-11-13). "On Israel-Egypt border, best defense is a good fence". Haaretz. from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
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  31. ^ . Israel Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2011.(in Hebrew)
  32. ^ . Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.(in Hebrew)
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External links

  • Eilat + official tourism website of the city of Eilat
  • Official city site (in Hebrew)
  • Crossing the Israel – Jordan Border
  • Eilat Tourist directory
  • (in Hebrew)
  • Photos of Eilat
  • Tourism city guide site
  • Eilat Today, a magazine of current affairs
  • Birding in Eilat

eilat, this, article, about, city, other, uses, disambiguation, elat, redirects, here, canaanite, goddess, asherah, ɑː, laht, also, hebrew, יל, eˈlat, arabic, يل, ات, romanized, Īlāt, israel, southernmost, city, with, population, busy, port, popular, resort, n. This article is about the city For other uses see Eilat disambiguation Elat redirects here For the Canaanite goddess see Asherah Eilat eɪ ˈ l ɑː t ay LAHT UK also eɪ ˈ l ae t ay LAT Hebrew א יל ת eˈlat Arabic إ يل ات romanized ilat is Israel s southernmost city with a population of 52 753 1 a busy port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan as the Gulf of Aqaba The city is considered a tourist destination for domestic and international tourists heading to Israel Eilat אילת إيلاتCityFrom upper left Eilat coastline at night 2 evening view of Eilat marina view of Eilat North Beach view from the promenade to the outskirts and the surrounding mountains of Eilat FlagEmblem of EilatEilatShow map of Southern Negev region of IsraelEilatShow map of IsraelCoordinates 29 33 25 N 34 57 06 E 29 55694 N 34 95167 E 29 55694 34 95167Country IsraelDistrictSouthernFounded7000 BCE Earliest settlements 1951 Israeli city Government MayorMeir Yitzhak HaleviArea Total84 789 dunams 84 789 km2 or 32 737 sq mi Population 2021 1 Total52 753 Density620 km2 1 600 sq mi Websitewww eilat muni ilEilat is part of the Southern Negev Desert at the southern end of the Arabah adjacent to the Egyptian resort city of Taba to the south the Jordanian port city of Aqaba to the east and within sight of Haql Saudi Arabia across the gulf to the southeast Eilat s arid desert climate and low humidity are moderated by proximity to a warm sea Temperatures often exceed 40 C 104 F in summer and 21 C 70 F in winter while water temperatures range between 20 and 26 C 68 and 79 F Eilat averages 360 sunny days a year 2 Contents 1 Name 2 Geography 3 History 3 1 Early history 3 2 Modern city 3 2 1 Israeli Arab conflict 3 2 2 Future development plans 4 Climate 5 Demographics 6 Education 7 Healthcare 8 Transportation 8 1 Air 8 1 1 Former airports 8 2 Road 8 2 1 Bus 8 3 Border crossings with Egypt and Jordan 8 4 Maritime 8 5 Rail 9 Economy 9 1 Tourism 9 2 Dive tourism 9 3 Museums 9 4 Film 10 Archaeology 11 Notable people 12 Twin towns sister cities 13 Panoramic views 14 See also 15 References 16 External linksNameFurther information Elath and Aqaba Name The name Eilat was given to the abandoned frontier post of Umm al Rashrash أم الرشراش in 1949 by the Committee for the Designation of Place Names in the Negev referring to Elath a location mentioned in the Hebrew Bible that is thought to be located nearby in modern Jordan One committee member Yeshayahu Press stated when the real Eilat finally is in our hands our settlement will expand and reach over to there 3 Geography nbsp Eilat aerial viewThe geology and landscape are varied igneous and metamorphic rocks sandstone and limestone mountains up to 892 metres 2 927 ft above sea level broad valleys such as the Arava and seashore on the Gulf of Aqaba With an annual average rainfall of 28 millimetres 1 1 in and summer temperatures of 40 C 104 F and higher water resources and vegetation are limited The main elements that influenced the region s history were the copper resources and other minerals the ancient international roads that crossed the area and its geopolitical and strategic position These resulted in a settlement density that defies the environmental conditions 4 History nbsp 1822 Eduard Ruppell nbsp 1952 58 Survey of Israel On the left a map drawn by the first foreigner to explore the area in modern times with current borders overlaid modern Eilat is located between the mountain Gatal Mahamar and the area labelled marais saumatre brackish marsh On the right an early Israeli map drawn shortly after the founding of modern Eilat Historical Elath Ayla is located at Aqaba in Jordan the Israeli map includes the words Hebrew א יל ת הרומאית lit Roman Eilat The mound shown on the 1822 map as Ruines d Elana is today known as Tell el Kheleifeh speculated to be Biblical Ezion Geber it is shown on the Israeli map as Hebrew ע צ י ן ג ב ר lit Ezion Geber The mountain peak named Gebel Gatal Mahamar in 1822 is named Hebrew ה ר ש ל מ ה lit Mount Solomon in the Israeli map Early history Archaeological excavations uncovered impressive prehistoric tombs dating to the 7th millennium BC at the western edge of Eilat while nearby copper workings and mining operations at Timna Valley are one of the oldest on earth 5 An Islamic copper smelting and trading community of 250 400 residents flourished in the area during the Umayyad Period 700 900 CE its remains were found and excavated in 1989 at the northern edge of modern Eilat between what is now the industrial zone and nearby Kibbutz Eilot 6 Modern city During the British Mandate era a British police post existed in the area which was known as Umm Al Rashrash The area was designated as part of the Jewish state in the 1947 UN Partition Plan During the 1948 Arab Israeli War the abandoned police post which consisted of five clay huts was taken without a fight on March 10 1949 as part of Operation Uvda 7 8 This marked the end of Israel s war for independence The memorial at the historical place of March 1949 was declared a National Heritage Site in 1994 The town developed over the following years Eilat Airport was built in 1949 and individual ships began arriving in the 1950s but as there were no dedicated port facilities they unloaded their goods at sea In the early 1950s Eilat was a small and remote town populated largely by port workers soldiers and former prisoners The town s development accelerated in 1955 when it had a population of about 500 The Timna Copper Mines 9 near the Timna Valley and the Port of Eilat were opened that year and concerted effort by the Israeli government to populate Eilat began starting with Jewish immigrant families from Morocco being resettled there Eilat began to develop rapidly after the Suez Crisis in 1956 with its tourism industry in particular starting to flourish The Israeli Navy s Eilat naval base was founded that year 10 The town s population grew to 5 300 in 1961 Yoseftal Medical Center and the Eilat Ashkelon pipeline were completed in 1968 and the population increased further reaching 13 100 in 1972 and 18 900 in 1983 nbsp Eilat in 1963After the 1948 Arab Israeli War Arab countries maintained a state of hostility with Israel blocking all land routes Israel s access to and trade with the rest of the world was by air and sea alone Further Egypt denied passage through the Suez Canal to Israeli registered ships or to any ship carrying cargo to or from Israeli ports This made Eilat and its sea port crucial to Israel s communications commerce and trade with Africa and Asia and for oil imports Without recourse to a port on the Red Sea Israel would have been unable to develop its diplomatic cultural and trade ties beyond the Mediterranean basin and Europe This happened in 1956 and again in 1967 when Egypt s closure of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping effectively blockaded the port of Eilat In 1956 this led to Israel s participation alongside Britain and France in the war against Egypt sparked by the Suez Crisis while in 1967 90 of Israeli oil passed through the Straits of Tiran 11 Oil tankers that were due to pass through the straits were delayed 12 13 The straits closure was cited by Israel as an additional casus belli leading to the outbreak of the Six Day War Following peace treaties signed with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 Eilat s borders with its neighbors were finally opened nbsp The raising of the Ink Flag when the land upon which Eilat was built was captured during Operation UvdaIsraeli Arab conflict Eilat is especially defended by its own special forces unit Lotar Eilat It is a reservist special forces unit of the IDF trained in counter terrorism and hostage rescue in the Eilat area which has taken part in many counter terrorist missions in the region since its formation in 1974 The Lotar unit is composed solely of reservists citizens who must be Eilat residents between the ages of 20 and 60 who are on call in case of a terrorist attack on the city It is one of only three units in the IDF authorized to free hostages on its own command 14 15 In 2007 the Eilat bakery bombing killed three civilian bakers 16 17 This was the first such attack in Eilat proper 18 although other terror attacks had been carried out in the area 19 In 2011 terrorists infiltrated Israel across the Sinai border to execute multiple attacks on Highway 12 including a civilian bus and private car a few miles north of Eilat in what became known as the 2011 southern Israel cross border attacks 20 21 In order to prevent terrorist infiltration of Israel from the Sinai Israel has built the Egypt Israel barrier a steel barrier equipped with cameras radar and motion sensors along the country s southern border 22 The fence was completed in January 2013 23 Future development plans nbsp Eilat s north beachIn July 2012 Israel signed an agreement with China to cooperate in building the high speed railway to Eilat a railway line which will serve both passenger and freight trains It will link Eilat with Beersheba and Tel Aviv and will run through the Arava Valley and Nahal Zin 24 The former Eilat Airport was closed on 18 March 2019 after the opening of Ramon Airport The land occupied by the former airport is to be redeveloped The new Ramon Airport opened in January 2019 18 kilometres 11 miles north of Eilat and replaced both Eilat Airport and the civilian use of Ovda Airport 25 Hotels and apartment buildings containing a total of 2 080 hotel rooms and 1 000 apartments will be constructed on the site as well as 275 dunams of public space and pedestrian paths The plans also set aside space for the railway line and an underground railway station The plan s goal is to create an urban continuum between the city center and North Beach as well as tighten the links between the city s neighborhoods which were separated by the airport 26 In addition there are plans to move the Port of Eilat and the Eilat Ashkelon pipeline terminal to the northern part of the city as well as to turn it into a university town of science and research and brand it an international sports city All these projects are part of a plan to increase Eilat s population to 150 000 people and build 35 000 hotel rooms 27 ClimateEilat has a hot desert climate BWh 28 with hot dry summers and warm and almost rainless winters in Koppen climate classification Winters are usually between 11 23 C 52 73 F Summers are usually between 26 40 C 79 104 F There are relatively small coral reefs near Eilat however 50 years ago when they were much larger citation needed Climate data for Eilat Temperature 1987 2010 Precipitation 1980 2010 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 32 2 90 0 35 8 96 4 38 7 101 7 43 4 110 1 45 2 113 4 47 4 117 3 48 3 118 9 48 0 118 4 45 0 113 0 44 3 111 7 38 1 100 6 33 6 92 5 48 3 118 9 Mean maximum C F 26 3 79 3 29 3 84 7 32 8 91 0 38 2 100 8 42 1 107 8 43 6 110 5 44 1 111 4 43 2 109 8 41 9 107 4 39 7 103 5 33 4 92 1 28 0 82 4 44 1 111 4 Mean daily maximum C F 21 3 70 3 23 0 73 4 26 1 79 0 31 0 87 8 35 7 96 3 38 9 102 0 40 4 104 7 40 0 104 0 37 3 99 1 33 1 91 6 27 7 81 9 23 0 73 4 31 5 88 6 Daily mean C F 15 8 60 4 17 4 63 3 20 5 68 9 24 7 76 5 29 1 84 4 32 0 89 6 33 8 92 8 33 7 92 7 31 3 88 3 27 4 81 3 22 0 71 6 17 1 62 8 25 4 77 7 Mean daily minimum C F 10 4 50 7 11 8 53 2 14 6 58 3 18 4 65 1 22 5 72 5 25 2 77 4 27 3 81 1 27 4 81 3 25 2 77 4 21 8 71 2 16 3 61 3 11 9 53 4 19 4 66 9 Mean minimum C F 5 9 42 6 7 4 45 3 10 1 50 2 13 4 56 1 17 7 63 9 21 5 70 7 24 8 76 6 24 8 76 6 22 0 71 6 17 4 63 3 11 5 52 7 7 5 45 5 5 9 42 6 Record low C F 1 2 34 2 0 9 33 6 3 0 37 4 8 4 47 1 12 1 53 8 18 5 65 3 20 0 68 0 19 4 66 9 18 6 65 5 9 2 48 6 5 3 41 5 2 5 36 5 0 9 33 6 Average rainfall mm inches 4 0 2 3 0 1 3 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 2 2 0 1 5 0 2 24 1 Average rainy days 0 1 mm 2 1 1 8 1 6 0 9 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 8 1 9 10 5Average relative humidity 32 28 25 19 16 15 17 18 23 27 29 33 24Mean monthly sunshine hours 229 4 237 3 251 1 273 319 3 324 347 2 347 2 291 282 1 246 217 3 364 6Source Israel Meteorological Service 29 30 31 32 Eilat mean sea temperature 33 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec22 C 72 F 21 C 70 F 21 C 70 F 23 C 73 F 25 C 77 F 26 C 79 F 28 C 82 F 28 C 82 F 28 C 82 F 27 C 81 F 25 C 77 F 23 C 73 F DemographicsHistorical populationYearPop 1955500 19615 300 960 0 197213 100 147 2 198318 900 44 3 199532 500 72 0 200847 300 45 5 201750 724 7 2 Source CBS 34 The overwhelming majority of Eilat s population are Jews Arabs constitute about 4 of the population 35 Eilat s population includes a large number of foreign workers estimated at over 10 000 working as caregivers hotel workers and in the construction trades Eilat also has a growing Israeli Arab population as well as many affluent Jordanians and Egyptians who visit Eilat in the summer months In 2007 over 200 Sudanese refugees from Egypt who arrived in Israel illegally on foot were given work and allowed to stay in Eilat 36 37 38 EducationThe educational system of Eilat accommodates more than 9 000 youngsters in eight day care centers 67 pre kindergartens and kindergartens 10 elementary schools and 3 six year high schools Also there are some special education schools and religious schools 39 Ben Gurion University of the Negev maintains a campus in Eilat The Eilat branch has 1 100 students about 75 percent from outside the city In 2010 a new student dormitory was funded and built by the Jewish Federation of Toronto the Rashi Foundation Ben Gurion University of the Negev and the municipality of Eilat 40 The SPNI s Eilat Field School on the outskirts of Eilat offers special hiking tours that focus on desert ecology the Red Sea bird migration and other aspects of Eilat s flora and fauna 41 The Hesder Yeshiva Ayelet Hashachar is based in Eilat established in 1997 42 HealthcareYoseftal Medical Center established in 1968 is Israel s southernmost hospital and the only hospital covering the southern Negev With 65 beds the hospital is Israel s smallest Special services geared to the Red Sea region are a hyperbaric chamber to treat victims of diving accidents and kidney dialysis facilities open to vacationing tourists 43 Transportation nbsp Ramon Airport nbsp Port of Eilat Air Since 2019 Ramon International Airport has handled commercial domestic and international flights to Eilat IATA ETM ICAO LLER Former airports Eilat Airport is located in the city centre and was used largely for domestic flights 44 IATA ETH ICAO LLET The former site is to be redeveloped International flights often used Ovda International Airport some 50 kilometres 31 mi northwest of the city 45 IATA VDA ICAO LLOV While no civilian flights use the airport any longer it remains in use as a military airbase and for aircraft storage Road Eilat has two main roads connecting it with the center of Israel Route 12 which leads North West and Route 90 which leads North East and South West to the border crossing with Egypt Bus Egged the national bus company provides regular service to points north on an almost hourly basis as well as in city on a half hourly basis during daylight hours In part due to the comparatively long travel times there are different booking procedures for buses to Eilat including the option of advance reservations 46 47 48 Border crossings with Egypt and Jordan The Taba Border Crossing allows crossing to and from Taba Egypt The Wadi Araba Crossing renamed the Yitzhak Rabin Border Crossing on the Israeli side allows crossing to and from Aqaba Jordan Maritime The Port of Eilat and Eilat Marina allow travel by sea Rail Future plans also call for a rail link sometimes referred to as the Med Red 49 to decrease travel times substantially from Eilat to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem via the existing line at Beer Sheba planning is underway As of 2021 Dimona railway station is the southernmost passenger train station in Israel 50 EconomyIn the 1970s tourism became increasingly important to the city s economy as other industries shut down or were drastically reduced Today tourism is the city s major source of income although Eilat became a free trade zone in 1985 51 Tourism nbsp Eilat Sports Center a 3 million project was completed in 2013 Eilat offers a wide range of accommodations from hostels and luxury hotels to Bedouin hospitality In recent years Eilat has been the target of militants from Egypt and Gaza causing a reduced tourist inflow to the region Attractions include Birdwatching and ringing station Eilat is located on the main migration route between Africa and Europe International Birding amp Research Center in Eilat 52 Camel tours Coral Beach Nature Reserve an underwater marine reserve of tropical marine flora and fauna Coral World Underwater Observatory located at the southern tip of Coral Beach it has aquaria a museum simulation rides and shark turtle and stingray tanks The observatory is the biggest public aquarium in the Middle East 53 Dolphin Reef a marine biology and research station where visitors can swim and interact with dolphins 54 Freefall parachuting Yotvata Hai Bar Nature Reserve established in the 1960s to conserve endangered species including Biblical animals from this and similar regions The reserve has a visitors center care and treatment enclosures and large open area where desert animals are acclimated before re introduction into the wild Hai Bar efforts have successfully re introduced the Asian wild ass or onager into the Negev 55 The Hai Bar Nature Reserve and animal re introduction program were described in Bill Clark s book High Hills and Wild Goats Life Among the Animals of the Hai Bar Wildlife Refuge The book also describes life in Eilat and the surrounding area 56 Marina with some 250 yacht berths Timna Valley Park the oldest copper mines in the world Egyptian temple of Hathor King Solomon s Pillars sandstone formation ancient pit mines and rock art 57 What s Up a portable astronomical observatory with programs in the desert and on the promenade 58 Ice Mall ice skating rink and shopping mallDive tourism nbsp Coral World Underwater Observatory nbsp Eilat seaSkin and scuba diving equipment is for hire on or near all major beaches Scuba diving equipment rental and compressed air are available from diving clubs and schools all year round Eilat is located in the Gulf of Aqaba one of the most popular diving destinations in the world The coral reefs along Eilat s coast remain relatively pristine and the area is recognized as one of the prime diving locations in the world 59 About 250 000 dives are performed annually in Eilat s 11 km 6 8 mi coastline and diving represents 10 of the tourism income of this area 60 In addition given the proximity of many of these reefs to the shore non divers can encounter the Red Sea s reefs with relative ease 59 Water conditions for SCUBA divers are good all year round with water temperatures around 21 25 C 70 77 F with little or no currents and clear waters with an average of 20 30 metres 66 98 feet visibility Museums Eilat City Museum Eilat Art GalleryFilm Eilat has been utilized by film and television productions domestic and foreign for location shooting since the 1960s most notably in the early 90s as a tropical locale for season 2 of the Canadian production Tropical Heat It was also used in the films She Madron Ashanti and Rambo III ArchaeologyDespite harsh conditions the region has supported large populations as far back as 8 000 BCE citation needed Exploration of ancient sites began in 1861 but only 7 of the area has undergone serious archaeological excavation Some 1 500 ancient sites are located in a 1 200 square kilometer 460 sq mi area In contrast to the gaps found in settlement periods in the neighbouring Negev Highlands and Sinai these sites show continuous settlement for the past 10 000 years citation needed Notable people nbsp Shahar TzuberiShawn Dawson born 1993 basketball player Gadi Eizenkot born 1960 Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Eden Harel born 1976 actress Amit Ivry born 1989 Olympic swimmer and national record holder Keren Karolina Avratz born 1971 singer songwriter Shaul Mofaz born 1948 former Minister of Defense former Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Ziki Shaked born 1955 first Israeli ship s captain to go around the world under the Israeli flag from Eilat to Eilat Shahar Tzuberi born 1986 Israeli Olympic bronze medal winning windsurfer 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing Raviv Ullman born 1986 Israeli American actor musician Ghil ad Zuckermann born 1971 linguist with a focus on language revitalizationTwin towns sister citiesSee also List of twin towns and sister cities in Israel Eilat is twinned with 61 nbsp Acapulco Mexico nbsp Antibes France nbsp Arica Chile nbsp Durban South Africa nbsp Kamen Germany nbsp Kampen Netherlands nbsp Karlovy Vary Czech Republic nbsp Los Angeles United States nbsp Palanga Lithuania nbsp Piestany Slovakia nbsp Sopron Hungary nbsp Sorrento Italy nbsp Yalta Ukraine nbsp Yinchuan China nbsp Ushuaia Argentina Eilat has streets named after Antibes Durban Kamen Kampen and Los Angeles as well as a Canada Park Panoramic views nbsp Eilat coastline at night nbsp Panorama of the Eilat MountainsSee alsoBnei Eilat F C Eilat Pride Eilat Sports Center Eilat stone Hapoel Eilat B C Operation Ovda Red Sea Jazz Festival Yotvata AirfieldReferences a b Regional Statistics Israel Central Bureau of Statistics Retrieved 22 February 2023 Discovering the World of the Bible LaMar C Berrett Cedar Fort 1996 page 204 Eretz Magazine 3 June 2018 Editorial The Names Committee Archived 2020 09 22 at the Wayback Machine The issue of Eilat took up another chunk of the committee s time In 1949 Eilat did not exist The city was founded only in 1952 But a place by the name of Eilat appears time and again in the biblical record It was one of the stations in the wanderings of the people of Israel during the exodus from Egypt King Solomon built ships on the shore of the Sea of Sof in the land of Edom at Etzion Gever which is Eilat King Azariya of Judah built the city of Eilat and so on and so forth However the location of this place called Eilat or Etzion Gaver remained unclear On the shore of the gulf where the big shopping mall of Eilat is today a small adobe hut stood The hut served as a British police station called Umm Rashrash On the map Yeivin explained we see a place called Umm Rashrash and next to it the name Eilat But Eilat was not here Biblical and Roman Eilat were across the border in Jordan The name Eilat should be erased from the map We cannot give up Eilat Press retorted when the real Eilat finally is in our hands our settlement will expand and reach over to there David Amiran the geographer suggested that Eilat should be the name of the settlement that would be built on the shore of the gulf which should be called the Gulf of Eilat Ben Zvi was for eliminating Umm Rashrash from the map together with Etzion Gaver Eilat is Eilat he said musing that maybe the committee should call Umm Rashrash Etzion Gaver and establish Eilat elsewhere The committee ultimately decided to replace the name Umm Rashrash with Eilat Etzion Gaver was commemorated on the map by dubbing a well along the coast Be er Etzion Gever Today the well is buried under the artificial lagoon in Eilat Avner U 2008 Eilat Region In A Stern ed The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavation in the Holy Land Volume 5 Supplementary Jerusalem 1704 1711 Chalcolithic 5th Millennium BC Copper Smelting at Timna PDF Archived from the original PDF on 3 March 2021 Yehudah Rapuano 2013 An Early Islamic Settlement and a Possible Open Air Mosque at Eilat Atiqot 75 129 165 John S Haupert 1964 Development of Israel s Frontier Port of Elat The Professional Geographer 16 2 13 16 Bibcode 1964ProfG 16 13H doi 10 1111 j 0033 0124 1964 00013 x Nowar Maan Abu 2002 The history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 1 ed Oxford Ithaca Press p 297 ISBN 978 0863722868 Archived from the original on 2016 05 01 Retrieved 2015 07 07 Timna Copper Mines homepage Archived from the original on 2016 04 19 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Untitled דבר 27 דצמבר 1956 אוסף העיתונות הספרייה הלאומית www nli org il Avi Shlaim William Roger Louis 13 February 2012 The 1967 Arab Israeli War Origins and Consequences Cambridge University Press p 224 ISBN 978 1 107 00236 4 Archived from the original on 20 March 2015 Retrieved 20 February 2016 90 of Israeli oil was imported through the Straits of Tiran Avi Shlaim William Roger Louis 13 February 2012 The 1967 Arab Israeli War Origins and Consequences Cambridge University Press p 27 ISBN 978 1 107 00236 4 Archived from the original on 20 March 2015 Retrieved 20 February 2016 Daily brief to the U S president on 27 May 1967 PDF 27 May 1967 Archived PDF from the original on 17 June 2014 Retrieved 26 May 2014 diverted as was a sister ship yesterday The real 24 An inside look at an elite IDF anti terror unit Archived 2015 07 02 at the Wayback Machine Friday August 26 2011 5 Things You Didn t Know about the Eilat Counterterrorism Unit Archived from the original on 2016 02 20 Retrieved 2018 11 27 Suicide Bomb Kills 3 in Bakery in Israel Archived 2018 12 15 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times Jan 29 2007 Eilat driver warned police about terrorist minutes before attack Haaretz April 17 2006 Archived from the original on December 1 2017 Retrieved October 29 2012 Peretz orders IDF to prepare for operations in Gaza The Jerusalem Post January 29 2007 Archived from the original on December 15 2019 Retrieved October 29 2012 Past terror attacks in the Eilat area Haaretz January 29 2007 Archived from the original on April 18 2009 Retrieved October 29 2012 Harel Amos September 2 2011 September songs Haaretz Archived from the original on September 25 2015 Retrieved March 18 2012 Wyre Davies August 2 2010 One killed after rockets strike Jordan and Israel BBC Archived from the original on September 16 2010 Retrieved January 28 2011 Joel Greenberg 2011 12 02 On Israel s uneasy border with Egypt a fence rises Washington Post Archived from the original on 2012 03 19 Retrieved 2012 03 25 Amos Harel 2011 11 13 On Israel Egypt border best defense is a good fence Haaretz Archived from the original on 2017 12 01 Retrieved 2012 01 07 Israel China agree to build Eilat railway Globes 2012 07 03 Archived from the original on 2013 08 08 Retrieved 2013 03 12 Ramon Airport Ramon Airport Website Archived from the original on 2016 01 28 Retrieved 2016 01 30 Hotels 1 000 apartments planned for Eilat Airport site Globes 2012 04 03 Archived from the original on 2013 01 08 Retrieved 2013 03 12 Despite Japan IEC chairman urges nuclear power Globes 2011 03 15 Archived from the original on 2011 03 25 Retrieved 2013 03 12 Climate Eilat Climate graph Temperature graph Climate table Climate Data org Archived from the original on 5 November 2013 Retrieved 5 November 2013 Averages and Records for Tel Aviv Precipitation Temperature and Records written in the page Israel Meteorological Service Archived from the original on 14 September 2010 Retrieved 1 August 2010 in Hebrew Extremes for Tel Aviv Records of February and May Israel Meteorological Service Archived from the original on 10 July 2015 Retrieved 2 August 2015 in Hebrew Temperature average Israel Meteorological Service Archived from the original on 18 June 2013 Retrieved 8 December 2011 in Hebrew Precipitation average Archived from the original on 25 September 2011 Retrieved 12 July 2011 in Hebrew Eilat Climate and Weather Averages Israel Weather2Travel Archived from the original on 2013 11 05 Retrieved 2014 01 20 Locality File Israel Central Bureau of Statistics 2012 Archived from the original XLS on 2013 11 03 Retrieved November 3 2013 The Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research Weblog Mixed Cities in Israel 2013 11 11 Archived from the original on 2018 10 28 Retrieved 2018 10 27 Saul Jonathan Ringler Elana 2007 Sudanese refugees in Israel face uncertainty Boston Globe Archived from the original on December 8 2008 Retrieved October 29 2007 Joshua Mitnick 2006 Sudan s Genocide Lands at Israel s Door The Christian Science Monitor Archived from the original on October 10 2007 Retrieved October 29 2007 Neta Sela 2007 Israel must reject Darfur refugees rabbi says Ynetnews Ynet News Jewish World Archived from the original on October 23 2007 Retrieved October 29 2007 Daniel Horowitz UJA Federation of Greater Toronto Jewishtoronto net Archived from the original on February 9 2009 Retrieved January 28 2011 New Student Dormitories Dedicated in Eilat Campus 2010 05 15 Archived from the original on June 19 2010 Retrieved 2013 08 08 SPNI field schools Aspni org Archived from the original on 2013 05 30 Retrieved 2013 08 08 site of the Yeshiva Archived 2019 12 24 at the Wayback Machine Clalit Health Services Clalit org il Archived from the original on February 16 2010 Retrieved January 28 2011 Israel Airports Authority 2007 Eilat Airport Israel Airports Authority Archived from the original on October 31 2007 Retrieved November 16 2007 Israel Airports Authority 2007 Ovda Airport Israel Airports Authority Archived from the original on October 31 2007 Retrieved November 16 2007 Advance booking egged co il The Bus to Eilat The New Yorker 18 August 2011 Tourist Tip 152 Taking the Bus to Eilat Haaretz Moti Bassok Cabinet examining plan for Med Red railway Archived 2014 02 15 at the Wayback Machine Haaretz January 30 2012 Israel Railways rides again but few passengers return Globes 28 June 2020 Maltz Judy January 12 1989 Eilat turns to industry to complement tourism trade The Jerusalem Post p 9 Archived from the original on September 28 2008 Retrieved October 30 2007 birdsofeilat com birdsofeilat com Archived from the original on September 3 2009 Retrieved January 28 2011 Coral World 2005 The Underwater Observatory Marine Park Eilat Coral World Archived from the original on October 26 2007 Retrieved November 16 2007 The Dolphin Reef Eilat 2007 The Freedom To Choose The Dolphin Reef Eilat Archived from the original on November 18 2007 Retrieved October 29 2007 The Red Sea Desert 2007 Hai Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve The Red Sea Desert Archived from the original on September 29 2008 Retrieved November 16 2007 Bill clark 1989 High Hills and Wild Goats Life Among the Animals of the Hai Bar Wildlife Refuge Little Brown and Company 1st edition Archived from the original on 2010 11 09 Retrieved 2009 10 02 BiblePlaces com 2007 Timna Valley BiblePlaces com Archived from the original on November 17 2007 Retrieved November 16 2007 What s Up Observatory in Eilat Whatsup eilatnature com Archived from the original on July 21 2012 Retrieved January 28 2011 a b MFA Gulf of Aqaba Tourism 30 Sep 1997 Mfa gov il Archived from the original on 12 October 2012 Retrieved January 28 2011 Artificial Reefs and Dive Tourism in Eilat Israel Dan Wilhelmsson Marcus C Ohman Henrik Stahl and Yechiam Shlesinger Ambio Vol 27 No 8 Building Capacity for Coastal Management Dec 1998 pp 764 766 Published by Allen Press on behalf of Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 1 Archived 2016 05 27 at the Wayback Machine ערים תאומות eilat muni il in Hebrew Eilat Archived from the original on 2017 01 12 Retrieved 2020 02 24 External links nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eilat nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Eilat Eilat official tourism website of the city of Eilat Official city site in Hebrew Crossing the Israel Jordan Border Eilat Tourist directory A film about Eilat in 1960 commentary in Hebrew Photos of Eilat Tourism city guide site Eilat Today a magazine of current affairs Birding in Eilat Scuba Diving in Eilat with descriptions of dive sites Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eilat amp oldid 1190870575, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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