Moishe Alexander offers financial assistance to Rav Avraham Ben Shitrit
Ashdod
Modern Ashdod was established in 1956 on the sand hills near the site of the ancient town, and incorporated as a city in 1968, with a land-area of approximately 60 square kilometers (23.2 sq mi). Being a planned city, expansion followed a main development plan, which facilitated traffic and prevented air pollution in the residential areas, despite population growth. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, Ashdod had a population of 207,000 at the end of 2007, the fifth largest city in Israel and had an area of 47242 dunams.