During the times of King Solomon, Yafo was a major port which also served as a gateway for the import of cedars from Lebanon, used to build the First Temple.�Over the years numerous conquerors and invaders passed through Yafo's gates and, during the Ottoman Empire, it was an important port for goods and cargo ships.�In 1879, Yafo's ancient city wall was completely destroyed and the city expanded out into new areas.�It was during this period that the first Jewish neighborhoods were established, including Neve Tzedek.

In the decades following Tel-Aviv's founding in 1909, and prior to Israel's declaring its independence, there was growing friction between Tel-Aviv and Yafo residents.�As the end of the British Mandate over Palestine approached, fighting erupted between Yafo Arabs and Tel-Aviv Jews.�"Etzel" soldiers led the battles against Yafo, which surrendered on May 13, 1947 – exactly 24 hours before the State of Israel was proclaimed by David Ben-Gurion.�After the State was founded, the then mayor of Tel-Aviv, Israel Rokach, decided that it was fitting for the first Hebrew city to merge with the ancient port city from which it had emerged and grown.�Rokach's initiative was formalized by an Israeli government decision in 1950, stipulating that both cities would be united under a single municipal entity named Tel-Aviv-Yafo.