Haifa

Haifa (חיפה) is a seaport located below and on Mount Carmel[?] and lies on the Mediterranean coast. Earlier a center of British-controlled Palestine, it is now the third largest city in Israel, with a population close to 300,000.

As the major port in the Palestine, with a population evenly divided between Palestinians and Jews, Haifa was a critical objective in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It was captured on April 23rd, 1948 by elements of the Carmeli Brigade, resulting in the flight of about 60,000 refugees.

Haifa is the site of two universities (Haifa University[?] and the Technion).

Haifa is a diverse cultural and ethnic center. It is the home of Jews, Arabs, and Druze; Noted by Jews for the Cave of Elijah, it is also cherished by Christians and the Baha'i (The shrine of the Bab and gardens on the Carmel's northern slope are important sites of worship, as well as tourist attractions).

External Link

• Municipality of Haifa (http://www.haifa.gov.il/)