Breaking: After Months of Debate Netayahu and Smotrich Decide to Close Down Sde Dov Airport in Tel Aviv

Following in-depth discussions with Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich, legal advisers and professional elements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today decided that there is no way to halt the evacuation of Sde Dov Airport in Tel Aviv. Any attempt to do so would cost the State of Israel billions of shekels and cause the state heavy damage.

At the same time, out of responsibility for the development of Eilat, Prime Minister Netanyahu – in conjunction with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Transportation Minister Smotrich, and with the approval of the Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit – directed that a NIS 400 million development plan be submitted to the Cabinet within three weeks. Finance Minister Kahlon and his staff promised to designate the budgetary source for the plan.

It was also decided that a ministerial team, to be chaired by Prime Minister Netanyahu, will verify implementation of the plan to develop Eilat.

The Ministers agreed on ensuring the continuity of air transportation to Eilat via Ben-Gurion International Airport at the same frequency that previously existed between Eilat and Sde Dov. After extensive discussions with the Minister of Transport, the legal advisors and the professionals, it was determined that there was no way to stop the evacuation of Sde Dov and that any attempt would cost the state billions of shekels and cause the state heavy damages.

These decisions join a series of decisions and benefits formulated for the benefit of passengers and special incentives for doctors to work in Eilat.

Benefits for patients from Eilat who must travel to  the center region to receive medical treatment will include funding for free taxi from Ben Gurion Airport to the hospital and back to the airport. Chronic patients – funding a complete coverage that will include costs of taxi from their homes to Ramon Airport, cost of the flight and taxi to the hospital and accommodation during their treatments.