Israeli Ports Chairman Says Trade, Not Missiles, Is the Real National Security Threat

Hazi Halaouya, chairman of Israel Ports Company, said Israel's biggest national security risk is not rockets but dependence on trade routes it cannot control. In an interview with ynet's studio, he argued that if Israel cannot create its own alternatives, it will lose a war.

“We talk a lot about Israel's security, what worries us are the missiles, and I want to say: trade is the real danger to our national security,” Halaouya said. He said the company is focusing on building inland ports, a land-based alternative to the current bypass routes.

According to Halaouya, such infrastructure would let Israel continue meeting national needs, including security, energy and food, while also turning the country into a major hub for goods moving to Europe and back again.