Be\'er Sheva, which used to be Israel\'s 4th-largest city, is now its 6th-largest. It was first deposed several years ago by Rishon LeTzion, and now again, by a margin of only 1,000 people, by the port city of Ashdod. Ashdod was built less than 40 years ago.
The Central Bureau of Statistics has released population statistics for Israel\'s cities, up-to-date for the end of the year 2000. Israel\'s ten largest cities are as follows:
Jerusalem - 658,000 people
Tel Aviv-Jaffa - 354,000
Haifa - 271,000
Rishon LeTzion - 202,000
Ashdod - 174,000
Be\'er Sheva - 173,000
Holon - 166,000
Petach Tikvah - 163,000
Netanya - 162,000
Bat Yam - 138,000