Israeli ports will be inoperative in event of escalation in North

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
15 Jul 2024 12:35
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The Eilat port has gone bankrupt following an 85% decline in activity due to Yemeni operations targeting Israeli-affiliated ships in the Red Sea.

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A boat bound for the Gaza Strip arrives at Ashdod port, occupied Palestine, Sunday, July 29, 2018. (AP)

Yemeni operations targeting Israeli and Israeli-affiliated ships in the Red Sea and even the only Israeli port on this maritime route have seemingly brought significant economic damage on Tel Aviv.

Regarding this issue, Gideon Golber, the CEO of the Port of Eilat, stated, "We must admit that the port is bankrupt; only one ship has arrived here in recent months." "The Yemenis have effectively shut off access to the port," he asserted.

The Eilat port has gone bankrupt following an 85% decline in activity due to Yemeni attacks on ships in the Red Sea, forcing port officials to seek help from the Israeli government.

The port has been subjected to frequent missile and drone attacks, originating not just from Yemen but also from Iraq and Bahrain in solidarity with Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli genocide. These attacks have resulted in substantial economic losses for the port. As a consequence, major shipping companies have suspended their shipments to Eilat, particularly those destined for "Israel", thereby halting their maritime operations in the Red Sea region.

It is worth noting that Umm al-Rashrash [Eilat], known for handling car imports and potash exports from the Dead Sea, is located next to Jordan's sole coastal access point at Aqaba and serves as "Israel's" eastern gateway.

Additionally, Ashdod Port is also preparing for scenarios of "escalation from the North with Hezbollah," as both it and the Haifa port fall within the range of Hezbollah's missiles, according to The Jerusalem Post.

All Israeli ports will be inoperative if the Northern front opens

Meanwhile, Shaul Schneider, the chairman of Ashdod Port, warned that if the Northern Front is opened, all of "Israel’s" ports will be inoperative except for Ashdod, due to the escalation in the North and the closure of the Eilat port.

In an interview for the Israeli newspaper Maariv, Schneider explained that Ashdod is the only government port, noting that "Israel" is effectively an "island nation", with 99% of its goods arriving by sea.

Regarding Ashdod Port, Schneider stated that it handles 40% of these goods and has recently served both Israeli and American security and military institutions with their ships.

He also emphasized that Ashdod Port is a critical strategic facility that continues to operate despite being under a barrage of missiles.

Yemeni threat should not be underestimated: Israeli media

Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom warned on Friday against underestimating the Yemeni threat, noting its global implications and stressing that Americans and Europeans are unable to confront it. The newspaper highlighted that the US and Europe are fighting "on behalf of Israel" to address strategic issues, emphasizing that while the war with the Yemeni Armed Forces is distant, "it represents one of the most intense theaters of confrontation."

Israeli security researcher Yoel Guzansky, from the "Institute for National Security Studies," cautioned that "the Yemeni threat should not be underestimated" and went as far as warning of a potential comprehensive war with Yemen. Guzansky expressed concern about the capabilities of the Yemenis, stating that they "know how to produce missiles, drones, and explosive boats."

He noted that Yemenis are working to damage the Israeli occupation's interests at sea and cause damage to the Israeli settlement of Umm al-Rashrash [Eilat].

Moreover, the Israeli analyst warned that "Israel does not know how to confront Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip all at once."

This comes as Yemeni Armed Forces continue their military operations against ships linked to the Israeli occupation in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean, despite the ongoing US-UK aggression against Yemen.