Chinese Company to Run New Haifa Port

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Chinese Company to Run New Haifa Port
Shanghai International Port Group was sole bidder for 25-year contract.

Avi Bar-Eli
Mar 24, 2015 5:10 PM

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-chinese-group-to-run-haifa-port-1.5341712
 
Shanghai International Port Group, the Chinese company that operates the city’s deep water port and the world’s largest harbor for container cargo, will operate the new private harbor being developed in Haifa Bay, Israel Ports Company’s international tenders committee decided on Monday.

SIPG entered the bidding to operate the facility late in the process, submitting an offer only after the first round of bidding was canceled. As it turned out, SIPG was the only company that bid to operate the new Haifa harbor in a 25-year contract that is expected to begin in 2021.

Transportation Minister Israel Katz termed the decision a “historic day” for Israel.

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Israel-China port deal triggers U.S. Navy pushback
By Guy Taylor - The Washington Times - Sunday, December 16, 2018

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/16/israel-china-haifa-port-deal-triggers-us-navy-push/

Israel’s decision to allow a Chinese government-connected firm to run a key Israeli port is causing rare friction with Washington amid behind-the-scenes pushback from the U.S. Navy, which has a long history of docking at the port.

Intelligence and security concerns raised by U.S. defense officials have prompted Israel’s national security cabinet to revisit a deal to give Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) control over commercial operations at the port of Haifa in 2021, according to an Israeli news report.

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One of the sources pointed to concern that sensitive infrastructure matters were not properly vetted by Israel’s full national security cabinet prior to approval of the SIPG deal.

Publicly, American Navy commanders have downplayed the appearance of U.S.-Israel friction over the deal, but have suggested the situation is being watched closely by the Pentagon.

“Our US Navy ships frequently visit Haifa, Israel, for both US-Israel bilateral military activity and port calls,” Commander Kyle Raines, a spokesman for the Navy’s Sixth Fleet told the Post, when asked whether China’s coming presence might affect fleet operations in the Mediterranean city.

“For now, there are no changes to our operations in Israel,” he said. “I can’t speculate on what might or might not occur in 2021.”

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