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Reparations Ships The launching of a new ship became a routine event in this era, accompanied by the
ceremonial breaking of a champagne bottle on the ship’s bow for luck and safe travels,
German reparations were the subject of heated political debates in the young State in the best maritime tradition.
of Israel. However, Zim’s leadership took advantage of them with an ambitious and
detailed procurement plan. German shipyards were clamoring for employment and,
with oversight from Zim’s new planning and shipbuilding department, they laid the
groundwork for a modern and specialized merchant fleet. The reparations agreements
created favorable financial conditions, but did not directly pay for the cost of the ships,
which instead came entirely out of Zim’s budget.

Alon ‫אלון‬ Yarden ‫ירדן‬ Ashdod ‫אשדוד‬ Rimon ‫רימון‬

Shomron ‫שומרון‬ Timna ‫תמנע‬ Eshkol ‫אשכול‬ Yehuda ‫יהודה‬

Dagan ‫דגן‬ Deganya ‫דגניה‬ En Gedi 1 ‫עין גדי‬ Yaffo ‫יפו‬

Etrog ‫אתרוג‬ Theodor Herzl ‫תיאודור הרצל‬ Jerusalem ‫ירושלים‬ Kedmah ‫קדמה‬
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