Prime Minister Ariel Sharon congratulates Ashdod Port

“I am pleased to be here today and participating in the inauguration of the first stage of the Eitan Port - the State of Israel's new and advanced gateway to the seas. This week, I had several opportunities to fly over this port on my way to Jerusalem”, said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the Eitan Port ceremony.
 
“A few days ago, I saw the port and remembered a poem from my childhood, "The Port Poem" by Leah Goldberg: "The concrete is solid and the crane is raised, The cargo boats arrive at the shore. Sky blue below and sky blue above Thus is how we built a port, a port".
 
“This poem was written in the '30's during the Arab riots of 1936”, said PM Sharon and added: “During that time, the Jewish population of the Land of Israel was prevented from using the Jaffa Port. Therefore, the Tel Aviv Port was built. The difference between the inauguration of the old Tel Aviv Port and the inauguration of the Jubilee Port today reflects the magnificent accomplishments of Zionism in the 70 years since then”.
 
“Eitan Port is the first computerized port in Israel, and it offers a level of technology and service to shipmates, which is unprecedented in Israel. Eitan Port - which will launch Ashdod Port to the forefront of ports in the region - is also a wonderful gift to the city of Ashdod, during its Jubilee Year”.
 
“Today, the State of Israel still faces many challenges - in security, in Aliyah, in the economy and in society. All these challenges can be overcome. Zionism has already overcome numerous and more difficult challenges. However, the only way to reach a better future in this country is to build this future together. United, together, we have achieved impressive accomplishments in the past 70 years, and thus we will continue and achieve many more”.
 
PM Sharon Said that if the people of Israel will continue to work together, despite disagreements and differences of opinion, can they overcome these challenges.
 
“If there is anything which evokes sadness during today's celebrations, it is, of course, Raful's absence - the former Chief of General Staff of the IDF and Government Minister - who took upon himself the task of building the port - and who died on its rocks, fighting the sea and its waves. Our acquaintance and friendship spanned decades - and therefore I was not surprised when Raful undertook the mission of constructing the harbor. He dedicated his entire life serving as a soldier in the Zionist enterprise. Initially, in the Palmach, without uniform and afterwards as a soldier in uniform. When his military service ended, he decided to serve his country in the public and political sphere, following that he enlisted as a soldier in the construction and development fields of the country. There he fell, during his service. Eitan Port will commemorate his legacy forever”.
 
“I congratulate the Ashdod Port Company - for completing the first phase of building the Port. The fact that a woman today heads the company - Chairperson of the Directorate, Ms. Iris Stark - is one of the special signs of the new era in the port. Congratulations and special thanks to the workers, without whom even the most advanced state-of-the-art harbor, would
be nothing more than a wasteland of concrete and metal”.