The Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot confirmed that the strategic southern port of Umm al-Rashrash is facing the most severe crisis in its history. "For over two years, repeated damage to shipping lanes leading to the Red Sea, attacks on ships, and geopolitical instability have brought port operations to a near standstill."
Yediot Aharonot reported that "workers arrive at the empty docks every morning, ready to perform their duties, but the ships don't arrive."
According to the newspaper, "the port's revenues, which previously amounted to approximately 240 million shekels annually, have plummeted to almost zero, while government aid has reached only 15 million shekels."
The newspaper noted that Histadrut (General Federation of Labor) promised an additional 5 million shekels to prevent layoffs, but this funding has not materialized due to a "conflict of interest" scandal in which its chairman, Arnon Bar-David, is suspected of involvement.
In addition, the Ministries of Finance and Transportation recently announced that they would not extend the port's operating concession due to its failure to meet the required conditions. The port intends to declare war on this situation, demanding that the government "reverse its position."
The Israeli newspaper noted that since Sana'a seized a ship bound for the port of Eilat in November 2023, port operations have completely ceased.
This came after the port had "recorded a record number of vehicles arriving by October 2023, with expectations of an additional 15,000 vehicles arriving."
The port's deputy director of finance, Batya Zafrani, stated that on that day, the companies NYK and Zim stopped sending ships for several months, adding, "We thought the government would intervene, but after three months we started thinking about the fate of the workers."
She added, "We tried to temporarily relocate them to other ports to alleviate the pressure there, but that didn't work. In the end, we requested government assistance—15 million shekels, enough for only two months."
Avi Hormaro, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Umm al-Rashrash Port and CEO of the Naqsh Group, expressed his dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the crisis, saying, "The Israeli government has neglected the Eilat port. The Ministry of Transportation is making efforts, but the other ministries are uninterested."
He pointed out that "just as they forgot about Kiryat Shmona, they have neglected us," adding that "the (Yemeni) group is deciding on behalf of the Zionist entity whether or not it has a southern port."
He continued, "We don't manage the Red Sea; the government is responsible for keeping the waterway open."
Yediot Aharonot reported that "workers arrive at the empty docks every morning, ready to perform their duties, but the ships don't arrive."
According to the newspaper, "the port's revenues, which previously amounted to approximately 240 million shekels annually, have plummeted to almost zero, while government aid has reached only 15 million shekels."
The newspaper noted that Histadrut (General Federation of Labor) promised an additional 5 million shekels to prevent layoffs, but this funding has not materialized due to a "conflict of interest" scandal in which its chairman, Arnon Bar-David, is suspected of involvement.
In addition, the Ministries of Finance and Transportation recently announced that they would not extend the port's operating concession due to its failure to meet the required conditions. The port intends to declare war on this situation, demanding that the government "reverse its position."
The Israeli newspaper noted that since Sana'a seized a ship bound for the port of Eilat in November 2023, port operations have completely ceased.
This came after the port had "recorded a record number of vehicles arriving by October 2023, with expectations of an additional 15,000 vehicles arriving."
The port's deputy director of finance, Batya Zafrani, stated that on that day, the companies NYK and Zim stopped sending ships for several months, adding, "We thought the government would intervene, but after three months we started thinking about the fate of the workers."
She added, "We tried to temporarily relocate them to other ports to alleviate the pressure there, but that didn't work. In the end, we requested government assistance—15 million shekels, enough for only two months."
Avi Hormaro, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Umm al-Rashrash Port and CEO of the Naqsh Group, expressed his dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the crisis, saying, "The Israeli government has neglected the Eilat port. The Ministry of Transportation is making efforts, but the other ministries are uninterested."
He pointed out that "just as they forgot about Kiryat Shmona, they have neglected us," adding that "the (Yemeni) group is deciding on behalf of the Zionist entity whether or not it has a southern port."
He continued, "We don't manage the Red Sea; the government is responsible for keeping the waterway open."
