Haifa

Haifa (Hebrew חיפה, modern Hebrew pronunciation [ˈxɛfa]; Arabic حيفا, DMG Ḥayfā ['ħajfa], pronunciation in local Arabic dialect [ˈħeːfa]) is Israel's third-largest city (after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv), with 281,087 (2017) inhabitants. Now a major city on the Mediterranean coast, Haifa has existed since the mid-18th century and was a predominantly Arab city until the mid-1940s; settlements have existed on the site since ancient times. The greater Haifa area is home to about 600,000 people. It also includes the towns of Krajot, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmil and Nesher. In November 2018, Social Democrat Einat Kalish-Rotem won the mayoral election against incumbent Jonah Jahaw. It is the first time since the founding of the state of Israel 70 years ago that a woman has become mayor of a major city.

Geography

Geographical position

Haifa is located in northern Israel on the Bay of Haifa and the northern slope of the Carmel Mountains on the Mediterranean Sea. Israel's largest seaport is located on the northwestern outskirts of the city.

Climate

Haifa has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. According to the effective climate classification by Wladimir Peter Köppen and Rudolf Geiger, this is classified as Csa (Hot Summer Mediterranean Climate). Spring begins in March, when temperatures start to rise. By the end of May, there is a significant warming that heralds the hot summer days. The average temperature in summer is 26 °C and 12 °C in winter. Snow is rare in Haifa, but temperatures around 3 °C are possible in some circumstances, usually in the early morning hours. Humidity tends to be high throughout the year, with rain occurring mostly between September and May. The annual rainfall is about 538 l/m².

Extension of the urban area

Due to its location on the mountainside, Haifa has a special urban layout. The different parts of the city rise from sea level to an altitude of just over 400 meters. Three development areas can be distinguished:

• On the seafront in the lower city, close to the port, are large industrial areas with a refinery, major thoroughfares and railway facilities. Most of Haifa's Arab population lives in this part of the city (called haIr).
• Halfway up (80-120 meters above sea level) in the middle city are the main business zones and administrative facilities. This district (Hadar haKarmel) was established in 1920.
• The highest part of Haifa (Central Carmel, HarHacarmel) is home to exquisite hotels and restaurants as well as the most expensive residential areas. At the southern exit from the city and thus at the highest point is the University of Haifa at over 400 meters with a striking high-rise tower.

The different levels of Haifa are connected by Israel's only underground railway, the Karmelit.

Mayor

• 1873–1877: Najib Effendi al-Yasin
• 1878-1881: Ahmad Effendi Jalabi
• 1881–1884: Mustafa Bey al-Salih
• 1885-1903: Mustafa Pasha al-Khalil
• 1904-1910: Jamil Sadiq
• 1910-1911: Rif'at al-Salah
• 1911-1913: Ibrahim al-Khalil
• 1914-1920: Hassan Shukri
• 1920-1927: Abd al-Rahman al-Haj
• 1927-1940: Hassan Shukri
• 1940-1951: Shabtai Levy
• 1951-1969: Abba Hushi
• 1969-1973: Moshe Flimann
• 1974-1975: Yosef Almogi
• 1975-1978: Yeruham Zeisel
• 1978-1993: Arie Gur'el
• 1993-2003: Amram Mitzna
• 2003 (interim): Giora Fisher
• 2003-2018: Jonah Jahaw
• Since 2018: Einat Kalisch-Rotem