Netanyahu decides: A new international airport will be built
7/7/2025 7:50:00 AM
Israeli sources reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has chosen northern Negev as the site for a new international airport, bypassing the previously favored location of Nevatim—possibly to avoid conflict with military operations.
Netanyahu decided to move forward with establishing the new airport in the Tel al-Shari'a area of northern Negev, near Rahat, the largest Bedouin city in the country.
The decision comes after years of debate over the most suitable location for Israel's second international airport, which is expected to ease pressure on Ben Gurion Airport and strengthen international air connectivity.
Nevatim, located east of Be'er Sheva and home to a key Israeli Air Force base, was until recently the leading candidate. However, Netanyahu opted for Tel al-Shari'a for reasons not fully disclosed, though informed sources suggested the new site allows for broader urban development and avoids interference with military activity in Nevatim.
The decision has prompted mixed reactions in the south. While some Jewish local council leaders welcomed the plan as an economic boost for the Negev, voices within the Bedouin community—particularly in Rahat—expressed concern about the impact on residential expansion and potential land expropriation.
It is worth noting that plans for an international airport in the Negev have been under discussion for over a decade, but disagreements among government ministries and the Defense Ministry's stance on Nevatim's military use have delayed a final decision. The revised proposal is expected to be presented to the ministerial infrastructure committee in the coming weeks, paving the way for official planning.
If approved, this would be the first time a civilian airport of this scale is built in Israel’s south, potentially marking a major shift in the distribution of national infrastructure and reshaping the economic landscape of the Negev.
Netanyahu decided to move forward with establishing the new airport in the Tel al-Shari'a area of northern Negev, near Rahat, the largest Bedouin city in the country.
The decision comes after years of debate over the most suitable location for Israel's second international airport, which is expected to ease pressure on Ben Gurion Airport and strengthen international air connectivity.
Nevatim, located east of Be'er Sheva and home to a key Israeli Air Force base, was until recently the leading candidate. However, Netanyahu opted for Tel al-Shari'a for reasons not fully disclosed, though informed sources suggested the new site allows for broader urban development and avoids interference with military activity in Nevatim.
The decision has prompted mixed reactions in the south. While some Jewish local council leaders welcomed the plan as an economic boost for the Negev, voices within the Bedouin community—particularly in Rahat—expressed concern about the impact on residential expansion and potential land expropriation.
It is worth noting that plans for an international airport in the Negev have been under discussion for over a decade, but disagreements among government ministries and the Defense Ministry's stance on Nevatim's military use have delayed a final decision. The revised proposal is expected to be presented to the ministerial infrastructure committee in the coming weeks, paving the way for official planning.
If approved, this would be the first time a civilian airport of this scale is built in Israel’s south, potentially marking a major shift in the distribution of national infrastructure and reshaping the economic landscape of the Negev.