Israel approves new airport plans near Gaza border

Israel's Economic Affairs Committee has approved a plan to construct a new international airport in Nevatim, located about 65 kilometers from the Gaza border, in response to congestion at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. The project is set to take seven years to complete and is expected to handle up to 15 million passengers annually while creating around 50,000 jobs, particularly benefiting the local Bedouin community. However, the initiative faces opposition from Israel's military and security establishment due to its proximity to a military airbase that has previously been targeted. The new airport aims to alleviate pressure on Ben Gurion, which is nearing its capacity of 40 million passengers, with projections indicating that 80 million travelers could pass through by 2050. The committee's approval marks a significant step forward for the project, despite concerns regarding security risks in the area. Recent resumption of international flights to Israel indicates a potential recovery in the aviation sector, further underscoring the need for additional airport capacity.