The clock tower, located in the center of old Jaffa on the square called Clock Square, is considered one of the symbols of the city and an important historical landmark of Tel Aviv.
The tower was built in 1900-1903. Its appearance was timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II over the Ottoman Empire. Similar towers in honor of this event were erected throughout the empire. The installed clock is an exact copy of the clock on the El-Umdan Tower in Acre, in the north of Israel.
The construction of the Clock Tower was carried out mainly through donations from the residents of Jaffa - Arabs and Jews. The architectural forms of the tower outwardly resemble a European church, although this structure has nothing to do with religion. Moreover, these are the first large clocks in Israel not associated with a church or mosque, so their installation marked a kind of shift in society toward secularism.
The Clock Tower has undergone two restorations. The first time, in 1965, the clock was replaced and decorative elements were added. The second restoration took place relatively recently - in 2001. Nowadays, the clock on the tower shows two times - European and local. Twice an hour, the ringing of a bell carries from the tower throughout the surrounding area.
