Alan – August 25

— Boat ride through the Haifa Port.
— Seeing the many Israel navy warships.
— The captured Egyptian destroyer & its new Israeli crew.
— Visiting the automobile and jeep assembly plants.


The captured Egyptian destroyer, known by the Egyptians as “Ibraham El Awal” being towed to Haifa port by the Israelis. The ship was later renamed the “INS Haifa”.

August 25, 1957 Sunday
Dear Alan,

I just came home (from the hotel) after a real exciting day. I was in a launch (a small boat) going through Haifa Harbor and saw all the refugees arriving.

That was exciting, but then our boat went to the port where Israel Navy warships were docked. They looked beautiful and there were plenty of them. Of course, you couldn’t take pictures of the warships but when I get home, I’ll tell you about them.

Then came the biggest thrill of all – the appearance of the captured Egyptian destroyer, now the “Israel Navy Destroyer SS Haifa”. She looked great and it felt great to speak to the crew, of whom a few were refugees from Nasser and Egypt. They were all ready to pay Nasser back a few things they owed him for what he did to their families in Egypt, and the Israel Navy was ready to do the same to all the Arabs.

In the afternoon I visited the automobile assembly plants where they made jeeps and other “stuff”. It was real nice.

How have you been pal? Being a good boy I’m sure. Time for me to eat supper so I’ll sign off.

Love, your Pal
Bob

Comments:

August 25, 1957 Sunday

The hotel where my father stayed in Haifa was the “Carmella Hotel”. Years later, it was renovated and is now a boutique hotel.

“In the afternoon I visited the automobile assembly plants where they made jeeps and other ‘stuff’.”
My father thought it was very important for the Israeli economy that goods be manufactured in Israel, and was always a huge advocate for marketing and purchasing Israeli products. The assembly plant my father is referring to here is the “Kaiser-Ilin” automobile plant which was built in Haifa in 1951. The plant began building jeeps in 1953. Many of these jeeps were exported to other countries.

“I was in a launch (a small boat) going through Haifa Harbor...Then came the biggest thrill of all – the appearance of the captured Egyptian destroyer, now the “Israel Navy Destroyer SS Haifa”.
The Egyptian Warship “Ibraham El Awal”, was captured by Israel on November 1, 1956 during Israel’s 1956 war with Egypt, which was known as the Sinai Campaign. The “Ibraham El Awal” was towed back to Haifa where it was repaired, and later entered the Israel Navy as the “I.N.S. Haifa”.