An Airport, a Valley—and the Consequences of Chronic Indecision

A proposal to build a major civilian airport in the Jezreel Valley has been one of Israel’s longest and most acrimonious environmental controversies. The decision about where to site the country’s second international airport has been plagued by special interests and conflicting values. The anticipated environmental and health impacts caused by a civilian airport on life in the Jezreel Valley are described, along with the heated debate between the local residents and environmentalists on the one hand and Israel’s powerful military establishment on the other. The conflict highlights profound changes in Israeli society and the ecological challenges it faces as it seeks to preserve the country’s historic and scenic landscapes in an increasingly crowded reality. This case study concludes that locating a new airport on an artificial island in the Mediterranean constitutes the optimal solution for resolving Israel’s longstanding air traffic conundrum.