Northern Mayors Press for Ramat David Airport-Northern Israeli mayors are urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to fast-track the Ramat David airport project, calling it vital for regional development and a cornerstone of national infrastructure.
Northern Mayors Rally Behind Ramat David Airport, Form Action Committee
As the government debates the location of Israel’s next major airport, northern municipal leaders—including several Likud mayors—have urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to select Ramat David in the Lower Galilee.
In a joint letter, mayors from Afula, Karmiel, Nof Hagalil, Tiberias, Beit She’an, Kiryat Bialik, and Hatzor announced the formation of a broad action committee to push for the airport’s construction.
“This project is critical for regional growth and national infrastructure,” the letter states, calling Ramat David the optimal choice to complement Ben Gurion Airport.
Northern Mayors Urge PM to Approve Ramat David Airport, Slam Dismissal by Ministers
As the government meets today to discuss the location of Israel’s secondary airport, northern mayors—including prominent Likud members—have intensified their call for selecting Ramat David in the Lower Galilee, announcing the formation of a broad action committee to push the project forward.
In a sharply worded letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the mayors criticized what they described as ongoing disregard by key officials:
“Time and again, we are astonished to see how some decision-makers, including Minister Miri Regev and Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, ignore our position and actively thwart the Ramat David option—despite every professional assessment identifying it as the most suitable location,” the letter stated.
Emphasizing the airport’s national importance, the letter called it a vital catalyst for Galilee’s future:
“This is an unprecedented growth engine—expected to generate 11,000 jobs, triple revenue from inbound tourism, and provide international air access to over 4 million residents of Haifa and northern Israel by 2035.”
The newly formed action committee will include leaders from the tourism, health, economic, and industrial sectors alongside regional authorities.
Ahead of today’s deliberations, the mayors urged decisive leadership:
“We, the heads of northern municipalities and Likud members, call on you, Prime Minister, to finalize the airport’s planning and move this crucial project forward without delay.”
Ophir Shik, deputy head of the Lower Galilee Regional Council and chair of Lev BaGalil, echoed the urgency:
“There’s no need for a north-south divide—Israel needs both airports. Advancing Ramat David will uplift the entire Galilee and help relieve the growing burden on Ben Gurion Airport.”
