Israel closes Haifa port after rocket attacks

JERUSALEM, July 17 (Reuters) Israel today closed its port in the northern city of Haifa on Monday in the wake of Hizbollah rocket attacks from Lebanon, the Transport Ministry said.

The port is one of the country's key shipment points.

''At this stage, we decided to stop docking of ships until the next assessment tomorrow due to continued fire at Haifa,'' said Avner Ovadiah, a ministry spokesman.

Some shipments had already been diverted to the port of Ashdod in the south.

Reuters PKS DB2035