A rebellion inside the coalition looks set to block plans to create a large “Las-Vegas style” casino and tourism complex in Eilat, following strong objections from religious parties Bayit Yehudi, United Torah Judaism and Shas to the proposal.
In 2015 after the general election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested that Tourism Minister Yariv Levin and Transportation Minister Israel Katz head up a team to explore the possibility of establishing a casino in Eilat as a way of boosting its international tourism profile.
The current plan would establish two to four casinos in the southern city. Netanyahu convened a meeting of the committee examining the idea in March, saying that the feasibility study was being conducted “in order to save Eilat from economic collapse and to create thousands of jobs in the city.”
The prime minister’s religious coalition partners, however, issued vocal opposition to the proposal on moral grounds, saying that the establishment of casinos would cause severe social problems such as gambling addiction, monetary loss and family disruption.
Additionally, Yesh Atid and Meretz declared that they would oppose the proposal, while the Zionist Union said that it would in all likelihood work against it as well. This seemingly presents insurmountable political opposition within the Knesset to the establishment of casinos in Eilat.
Bayit Yehudi chairman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett said that the idea was “forbidden, morally and practically” and would cause social and financial damage to society.
“It is forbidden morally because casinos contradict the values of our state, serve the strong and weaken the weak and practically because we will all need to fund the damage and injury to the body and soul that will come along with a casino,” said Bennett. Bennett remarked he would actively work to prevent the establishment of casinos. “Israel isn’t Vegas and it won’t be. We will oppose it.”
