Gaza rocket attack sparks talk of shutting Ashdod Port

ISRAEL is considering closing Ashdod Port and divert ships to Haifa because of the risk of attacks from Gaza, 25 miles away, according to the daily Ma'ariv.

A rocket struck open ground near Ashdod, an Israeli Army spokesman said, adding that this was longest range achieved by rockets from Gaza so far.

It is understood that ships with berthing windows at Ashdod will soon refuse to go there and seek to discharge cargo elsewhere.

Twenty-five miles from Tel Aviv, Ashdod Port is the closest to Israel's commercial centre, handling 808,700 TEU in 2007, an increase of 17 per cent year on year, according to its website.

Source: Schednet