Tourism Ministry and Israel Land Administration (ILA) representatives have recently greed to apportion 40-50 dunams (10-12 acres) of land on Eilat's northern beach for what would be Israel's first legal casino complex. Opponents such as MK Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism) are many and vocal.
The plan, which has yet to be approved by the government or the Knesset, calls for a large convention center, hotels and stores to be built alongside the casino.
Gambling and casino-operating are not legal in Israel, yet the issue has been periodically raised. This past August, the Prime Minister appointed a joint Finance and Tourism Ministries committee to gather data to help determine whether a legalized casino in Israel would be a positive phenomenon or not. Porush lamented that land was allotted despite the fact that the committee has not yet completed its work. "Even if a decision is made to legalize casinos," he said, "the religious parties and many others will oppose it very strongly, and it is likely not to pass."
Tourism Minister Yitzchak Aharonovitch (Yisrael Beiteinu) estimates the number of illegal gambling facilities in the hundreds.
Porush Calls on Attorney-General to Enforce Law
MK Porush says the new initiative is ill-advised and illegal: "There has been no Cabinet decision to do this, and it is very questionable as to whether the Knesset would approve such a wretched idea - yet some clerks are already rushing to build casinos, which are known to cause many significant societal and social problems." He called on the Attorney-General to cancel the "illegal" decision.
Proponents of the legal casino say it will advance tourism in Israel, and especially in Eilat, which is facing stiff competition from Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh for international tourists.
Porush responds: "This is a groundless claim. Tourists come to us because we are the Holy Land, the Land of the Bible, with historic and archaeological sites that attract tens of millions of people. If they want casinos, they can go to Europe or other countries. Casinos won't attrack tourists; on the contrary, they will harm our unique image as the most ancient nation, with its own culture."
Some point to the thriving economy and quality of life in Las Vegas and other casino locations as proof that legalized gambling can bring blessing.
Porush, and others, are concerned that people who can least afford it will be enticed by the possibility of becoming millionaires - but will end up sinking their families even further into debt.