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Template:Infobox Israel muni

Ashdod is a city in the Southern District of Israel. It is located in the south of the Israeli Coastal Plain. Its jurisdiction is 60,000 dunams (60 km²). It was declared a city in 1968. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Ashdod had a population of 196,900 at the end of 2004. The annual population growth rate is 2.6%. The ratio of women to men is 1,046 to 1,000.

History

The beginning of the human settlement in the area of Ashdod is in the Paleolithic Age. During all three Stone Ages there was much human activity, and it is even mentioned in Ugaritic documents. At the end of the 13th century BC the Sea Peoples conquered the city and destroyed it. At the beginning of the 12th century BCE the Philistines (who are generally thought to have been one of the Sea Peoples) took over Ashdod, and during the years the city prospered and apparently became their capital

In 950 BCE it was destroyed in the conquering journey of Pharaoh Siamun; it is uncertain whether the petty king Dagantakala of the Amarna letters resided in Ashdod, but the city was rehabilitated after 815BCE. A little afterwards it was conquered by Sargon II, who destroyed the city and exiled its residents. Asdûdu led the revolt of Philistines, Judeans, Edomites, and Moabites against Assyria after expelling the king Akhimeti, whom Sargon had installed instead of his brother Azuri. Gath (Gimtu) belonged to the kingdom of Ashdod at that time.

An Assyrian general subjected Ashdod in 711 (cf. Isaiah 20:6), and the usurper, Yawani, fled. Mitinti was king in the time of Sennacherib; Akhimilki in the reign of Esarhaddon. Psammetichus of Egypt is reported to have besieged the great city Azotus for twenty-nine years (Herodotus, ii. 157); the biblical references to the remnant of Ashdod (Jeremiah 25:20; cf Zephaniah 2:4) are interpreted as an allusion to this event.

The city absorbed another blow in 605 BCE, when Nebuchadnezzar conquered it. In 539 BCE the city had been rehabilitated by the Persians, but was conquered in the wars of Alexander of Macedon, when its name was changed into Izotus.

In the Book of Nehemiah (at 4:1, 13:23, etc.), the Ashdodites seem still to represent the whole nation of the Philistines, so that 13:24, the speech of Ashdod (which the younger generation of the Jews are described as adopting), would simply be the general Philistine dialect. Winckler ("Gesch. Israels," p. 224) explains the use of that name by the fact that Ashdod was the nearest of the Philistine cities to Jerusalem; yet the simplest explanation seems to remain that Ashdod remained the leader among previously Philistine cities, even into Greek times.

The city prospered as Izotus under the Hellenist rule, until the Hasmonean Revolt. During the rebellion Judas Maccabeus arrived at its gates, but didn't conquer it. He had left it behind for his brother Jonathan, who conquered it in 147 BCE and destroyed the Temple of Dagon. According to Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews 13:15, volume 4), Alexander Jannæus possessed it. Pompey restored its independence in that he reconstructed its walls, though it belonged to the dominion of Herod and Salome (Antiquities... 17:18, volume 9), and Vespasian had to take it by force.

The statement of Ptolemy and Josephus that it was a maritime city, despite its standing 4 miles from the shore, is explained by the city having controlled a separate shore-edge harbour, which was called Azotus by the Sea (Antiquities... 13:15, volume 4). This place has been compared with the Asdudimmu mentioned by Sargon, but the comparison is hardly justified. To the west of the wooded height on which the city stands, traces of the ancient harbourr—now known as Minet el-Ḳal'a—can still be seen.

The importance of the city continued until the seventh century, then Ashdod-Sea was established - Azotus Paraliyus - and the importance of Ashdod faded. The Fatimids established shore fortresses in the area, and on Tel-Ashdod an Arabic village was established.

The location of the village on Via Maris resulted in an increase in its importance during the Ottoman age, when there was in the place a big village called Isdud, and in it a khan. In 1596 CE the population of Ashdod numbered 413 persons. In the beginning of the 20th century the city was known as Esdūd and was an insignificant village, its population numbering 5,000 persons, and its main industries being agriculture and trade. Ultimately the city became a municipal center for the villages around, and was renamed to Ashdod, and regained its national importance under Jewish dominion after the Balfour Declaration.

Uncorroborated claims by the Bible

According to the bible, during the 10th century BCE it became, along with all the kingdom of Philistia a patronage area of the Kingdom of Israel under the control of King David. Judah's claim upon Ashdod mentioned in the Book of Joshua (Joshua 15:46) is to be considered as merely theoretical, as Joshua 13:3 demonstrates. In the Book of Samuel it is mentioned first (I Samuel 6:17) among the principal Philistine cities; and the Ark of the Lord is brought first to that place as a trophy (1 Samuel 5 and following passages). The capture of the city by King Uzziah shortly after 815 BCE, mentioned within the text of the Book of Chronicles (2 Chronicles 26:6), is usually treated by modern critics as probably unhistorical.

Modern times

Immediately before the beginning of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War Egyptian forces took over Isdud, and the city became the northern-most advancement point of the Egyptian forces. Battles were conducted in the area during the war. The city was surrounded during Operation Yoav, and the Egyptian Forces, fearing encirclement, retreated on October 28th, 1948 and with them the decisive majority if not all of the city's residents. According to the historian Benny Morris, about 300 residents had flown white flags, but they were expelled to Gaza almost immediately.

In 1953, a group of surveyors and designers was sent to the desolate dunes area near the estuary of Lakhish Stream, in order to choose a place to build a new power station in the south of the country (eventually "Eshkol A"). Its workers dwelled in the region settlements - Rehovot and Gedera.

On May 1st, 1956 then finance minister, Levi Eshkol, in the name of the governement, gave confirmation for the establishing of Ashdod city. "Ashdod Company Ltd." was established by the end of that year, a daughter-company of City-Builders Company Ltd. - by Oved Ben-Ami and Philipp Klotznik (USA).

In November 1956 - the first settlers arrived - 22 families of immigrants from Morocco, and a bit later a group of immigrants from Egypt joined them. In July 1957 a concession was given to Ashdod Company Ltd. on an area of 40,000 dunam (40 km²), a distance of 32 km. as the crow flies from Tel Aviv, for the purpose of establishing Ashdod city.

The building of the Eshkol A power station in Ashdod was completed in 1958, and included 3 units: 2 units of 50 MW, and one unit of 45 MW (with the ability of sea water desalination).

The first local council was appointed in October 1959. Dov Gur was appointed on behalf of the Israeli Ministry of Interior to the duty of the first local council head. The Magistrate's Court in the city was inaugurated in 1963, and in January 1965 - a contract between Ashdod Company and the General Health Maintenance Organization was signed regarding establishment of a hospital with 500 beds on an area of 250 dunams (250,000 m²) - a hospital which has never been established.

The building of the port of Ashdod began in April 1961. The port was inaugurated in November 1963, and was run for the first time in November 1965 with the coming of the Swedish ship "Wiengelgad".

The explosive growth of the city began in 1991, with the massive arrival of immigrants from the Soviet Union and infrastructure development.

Economy

Ashdod is an important industrial center. The port of Ashdod is biggest in Israel, carrying about 60% of cargoes. Various shipping companies offices are also located in the port area. Other important industries are Eshkol electrical power station, oil refinery (one of two in the country) & coal terminal. Elta - is a part of Israel Aircraft Industries. The Radars, electronic warfare and ELINT are developed in Elta.

Transportation

For intercity transport, there is Israel Railways railroad station located on the Binyamina/Netanya - Tel Aviv - Ashkelon line.

There is also a central bus station. The lines connecting the city with all main population centers in Israel are served by Connex and the Egged Bus Cooperative.

Other transport options include a passenger pier in the Port of Ashdod and the Blue Marina.

Template:Start Israel Railways box Template:Israel Railways line |}

Income

According to the details of the CBS as for December 2001, the city is ranked in medium-low socio-economocial grading (4 of 10). The percentage of eligibles to matriculatulation certificate of the pupils of the twelveth classes in 2000 was 56.1%. The average salary in 2000 was 4,821 shekels (national average: 6,835 shekels).

Mayors

• Robert Hayim was chosen to the council chairmanship in the first municipal elections, in 1961.
• 1963 - Avner Garin
• 1969 - Zvi Zilker
• 1983 - Arye Azulay
• 1989-2006 - Zvi Zilker

Chassidic Rebbes

The Tolna Rebbe, Pittsburgher Rebbe, Neshchiz, and Melitzer Rebbes reside in Ashdod.

Culture and sports

• Football - FC Ashdod represents the city in Ligat ha'Al (The Premier League).
• Basketball - Bnei Ashdod represents the city in the Liga Leumit (National League - 2nd tier).

Ashdod Andalusian orchestra is very famous among the listeners of this kind of music.

The night life is very diverse and expand through several clubs and bars at the industrial area to occasional parties at the beach side. A video "Night in Ashdod 7.7.06" follows it.

Sister Cities

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items.

Notes

1.  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

• Ashdod official website
• Ashdod Port official website
• Ashdod Local News (in Hebrew)
• From Isdud to Ashdod: One man's immigrant dream; another's refugee nightmare

• Ashdod
• Cities in Israel
• Coastal cities
• Sea Peoples
• Port cities