Skip to main content

Will Israel get its first casino?

The plan promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to build casinos in Eilat prompt a rare Knesset alliance between right and left, religious and secular.
RTXSKU3.jpg

On at least three occasions Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to look into or promote the establishment of a casino in Israel. The first attempt took place during his first term as prime minister and then again in 2003 in his capacity as finance minister. The most recent attempt was made Feb. 17, when the premier set up a steering committee that would draw up a plan and prepare a bill for the establishment of a casino complex in the southern city of Eilat.

Netanyahu and Yariv Levin, the tourism minister and the (future) steering committee’s chair, claim that a supervised casino complex in Eilat will save the southern resort city from economic collapse. As it turns out, over the past three months Levin has turned from a vehement detractor of the idea who had many cogent arguments against it into a staunch supporter. His change of heart came after delving into the issue and studying it, as he put it. To pre-empt his critics, Netanyahu announced ahead of time that his close associate, American casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, would not be investing in the Israeli casino.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.