Half-laced starting out with one in a Middle Eastern port (5)

I believe the answer is:

haifa

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'port' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for haifa that I've seen before include "Seaside city" , "Major port in northwestern Israel" , "Israeli city" , "Major Israeli port" , "Mediterranean port" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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