Israel Moves Forward With New International Airport in the Negev

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Israel will build its supplementary international airport at Ziklag in the northern Negev, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Wednesday, ending years of debate over the location of a second major aviation hub.

The decision was finalized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the proposed resolution will be brought before the cabinet for approval on Sunday. The airport will be constructed near the Ziklag archaeological site, between the southern cities of Rahat and Netivot, not far from Beersheba.

The project is expected to cost an estimated 7 billion shekels and, according to planning documents published by Netivei Israel, will be capable of handling up to 10 million passengers annually and roughly 70,000 aircraft movements. Despite those figures, aviation officials have noted that the airport will be relatively small and unable to fully function as a true parallel alternative to Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s primary air gateway.

For years, the leading proposal for a supplementary airport focused on Ramat David in the Jezreel Valley, a plan approved in principle as early as 2007 but met with sustained local opposition. Nevatim in the Negev was also considered, particularly due to existing military aviation infrastructure. Ultimately, Ziklag was selected despite concerns over limited infrastructure, proximity to Gaza, and overlapping flight paths.

The urgency of the decision has grown since the outbreak of war, with congestion at Ben Gurion Airport worsening as passenger numbers continue to rise. Government projections show Ben Gurion nearing capacity, with up to 80 million passengers expected annually by 2050.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office described the new airport as “a national necessity” and said the decision marks a major boost for Israel’s aviation sector and the broader Negev region. The government said the project will create thousands of jobs, strengthen the regional economy, and support long-term efforts to reduce Israel’s geographic and economic disparities.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev called the move a “historic decision that strengthens Israel’s skies, the economy, and the Negev,” while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described it as a strategic step linking security resilience with economic growth.

Deputy Minister Almog Cohen underscored the symbolic significance of the location, noting that the airport will be built less than seven kilometers from areas attacked during the October 7 Hamas massacre. He said the project represents recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity for southern Israel.

Construction of the airport is not expected to be completed for more than a decade.

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