The prime minister wants to revive the coastal city and turn it into a something similar to the Las Vegas strip.
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Obama pointedly refused to see Netanyahu in March when the Israeli leader appeared before a joint meeting of Congress and harshly criticized the U.S.-negotiated nuclear deal with Iran, Israel’s enemy.
The United Nations spotlight will be on crises in the Mideast on Wednesday, with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing the General Assembly and Russia’s foreign minister holding a news conference a day after Russian warplanes launched airstrikes in Syria for the first time. However, casino gambling was opposed by religious and security authorities.
The feasibility study will also look at the underground or illegal casino industry in Israel which continues to grow at a rapid pace.
Plans for casino gambling in Eliat could involve licensing existing hotels to run casino games, or allowing a new casino-resort complex to be built.
Tourism Minister Yariv Levin told “Yediot Ahronot”: “My concern is that a casino will become a magnet for the underworld and a place where people would lose everything”.
“As tourism minister, I support this fully”, he said. It is clear that we need to find solutions for increasing the number of tourists to Eilat and there are not enough attractions in the city.
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Prior to boarding the plane, the Prime Minister said “I am now leaving for the USA where I will address the UN General Assembly”. These illegal casinos are spread all across Israel and have an exclusive clientele that work on an invitation only basis. 888 Holdings was founded by the Israel-based Ben-Yitzhak and Shaked families.
