Jerusalem, 15 February, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israeli government approved the establishment of a new international airport in Ziklag in the Negev, replacing a previously planned site in Nevatim, and will accelerate its planning to match that of Ramat David in the north. prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move “will be a tremendous boost to the development of the Negev—for employment, accessibility, and tourism,” while Transport Minister Miri Regev called it “an urgent national, economic and security need.”

The twin-airport plan aims to relieve pressure on Ben-Gurion Airport, prepare for rising passenger traffic, and promote growth in Israel’s peripheral areas.