Did you know that Tel Aviv Port was established following the Great Arab Revolt and the shutdown of Jaffa Port? In April 1936, the Great Arab Revolt broke out in Jaffa, in response to the strengthening of the Jewish Yishuv. The delayed and complacent reaction of the British led to a bloody struggle that lasted some three years, costing the lives of thousands of Arabs, more than 500 Jews and dozens of British. Consequences included a general strike, during which the port of Jaffa, a major commercial artery, was shut down, causing serious harm to the economy. An immediate and creative solution was needed. With support from Keren Hayesod and the Tel Aviv municipality, an alternative pier was quickly constructed in Tel Aviv. After only one month, the first ship was already unloading its goods at the improvised port that replaced Jaffa Port. In February 1938, the British authorized operating the Tel Aviv Port as a passenger port as well, and from then on, many immigrants entered the Land of Israel through its gates.
Photo: Carrying sacks on the pier of Tel Aviv Port, 1936