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.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Yemen’s Houthis officially entered the widening Middle East war on Saturday by launching an attack on Israel, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck a U.S. logistics vessel near Oman, amid fresh reports of American casualties.
A growing chorus of Iranian hardliners is openly calling for the Islamic Republic to pursue nuclear weapons, as internal divisions intensify amid ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel—two nations the regime has long targeted with chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
Finland’s top court has convicted a Christian politician, a Lutheran bishop, and his church foundation of “hate speech” after they published Christian views on homosexuality, sex, and marriage in a pamphlet 22 years ago.
The Pentagon is considering deploying up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East, a move that would significantly strengthen President Donald Trump’s position as his administration confronts the Iranian regime while keeping diplomatic options on the table.
Senate Democrats on March 26 unanimously rejected a Republican-backed amendment to the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act that would have required voters to present photo identification to cast a ballot, marking another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over election integrity.
Senate Republicans are urging Donald Trump to consider declaring a national emergency to ensure Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are paid, as a funding standoff over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) threatens to disrupt travel during the busy spring holiday season, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is now actively focused on “dismantling Hezbollah” as part of its broader campaign against Iran, declaring the military effort remains “in full swing” despite reports suggesting otherwise.