Deputy Regional Cooperation Minister Ayoub Kara on Tuesday, 19 Kislev, held a working meeting with Airports Authority Deputy Director General Shlomo Oren, Yitzhak Rabin Terminal Director Aryeh Saks and Taba Terminal Director Itzik Chai. The meeting was held in Eilat.

Deputy Minister Kara was briefed on the progress in bringing day laborers in from Jordan to work in Eilat hotels, which began last month. Yitzhak Rabin Terminal Director Saks pointed out that the pilot project that began with 150 day laborers is advancing well and that the number of laborers is due to reach 500 by the end of the year. In order to meet the government target of 1,500 laborers, it will be necessary to expand and upgrade the Yitzhak Rabin Terminal; Deputy Minister Kara said that the Regional Cooperation Ministry would be pleased to assist the Airports Authority in advancing the necessary steps.

Airports Authority Deputy Director General Oren presented the actions being taken at the land border crossings with Jordan in order to expedite the transit of goods, the way in which Israel – via the crossings with Jordan – serves as a land bridge between Arab countries and Europe, and possibilities regarding continued development of the crossings in order to facilitate a greater volume of trade. Kara noted the great importance of the crossings in upgrading Israel’s relations with its Arab neighbors, including more distant Arab states, especially regarding greater commercial cooperation. In this context, the Deputy Minister mentioned ‘Jordan Gate’ project, including a new bridge in the projected joint industrial zone in the northern Jordan Valley.

Deputy Minister Kara also toured the Taba Terminal and was briefed on activity at the terminal in light of recent security challenges in the Sinai Peninsula.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)