Ashkelon is a beach front city of 117,000. The ancient city is a popular tourist destination for those interested in the ancient history of the region. Its history dates back to the time of the Cananites and Philistines.
The city has made news recently because of Hamas rockets fired into Ashkelon from the Gaza Strip. The city, which was thought to be out of rocket range, is now a terror target as Hamas has procured newer rockets from Iran. This is particularly troublesome as Ashkelon is home to one of the largest power plants in Israel. Three rockets have hit the city so far in 2008.
Ashkelon is a popular home for Russian immigrants new to Israel. Its Mediterranean beach-front location in Southern Israel provides for warm weather and fun most of the year.
This post is part of a series on Israeli cities. To read about more cities click on the “City Focus Israel” label below.
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