Israel's Ben Gurion Airport Turned US Military Base

(MENAFN) Israel's top civil aviation official sounded the alarm Monday over the sweeping militarization of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, warning that the growing US military footprint is crippling civilian air travel and pushing Israeli carriers toward financial collapse.

Civil Aviation Authority chief Shmuel Zakay delivered the stark warning to Transportation Minister Miri Regev and ministry Director General Moshe Ben Zaken, cautioning that military operations at Israel's primary international gateway are delaying the return of foreign carriers and driving up ticket prices ahead of the peak summer tourism season, an Israeli broadcaster reported.

Israeli media outlets recently published images revealing dozens of US military aircraft — including aerial refueling planes — stationed at the airport, underscoring the scale of American military support for Israel.

"Turning Ben Gurion International Airport into a military base harms the return of foreign airlines and threatens the financial stability of Israeli airlines," Zakay said.

Regional instability stemming from the outbreak of war with Iran on Feb. 28 has taken a heavy toll on civilian air traffic, with Israeli carriers relocating numerous aircraft abroad — many of which have yet to return, Zakay noted. He added that the Israeli military establishment appears to lack a full grasp of the cascading damage being inflicted on civilian aviation, ticket pricing, and the traveling public.

"Ben Gurion Airport has become a military base with limited civilian activity," Zakay said.

Smaller Israeli carriers face a particularly precarious situation, Zakay cautioned, singling out Israir, Arkia, and Air Haifa as especially vulnerable to surging operating and fuel costs compounded by rising passenger demand. He called on authorities to immediately relocate US aircraft to dedicated military installations, warning that the status quo is hurting not just airlines but "all citizens of the country."

Growing US Presence
The dire picture was reinforced by Israir CEO Uri Sirkis, quoted by Yedioth Ahronoth during a session of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee. Sirkis revealed that his airline — which ordinarily parks 17 aircraft at Ben Gurion — has been restricted to keeping just four there overnight, a constraint he said is inflating airfare and slashing the number of operable flights.

The fallout from the US military buildup extends beyond the airport. Israeli media reported Thursday that hundreds of Israelis received notices abruptly canceling hotel reservations in the southern resort city of Eilat to make way for US troops. Guests were informed that bookings spanning from this month through November — covering the entire summer vacation season — had been scrapped.

Israeli media have further reported that Israel has raised its military alert level in preparation for a potential resumption of hostilities with Iran, should negotiations between Tehran and Washington break down.

The regional crisis was set in motion on Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate against Israel and US Gulf allies while shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire brokered through Pakistani mediation came into effect on April 8, but subsequent talks in Islamabad collapsed without a durable agreement. President Donald Trump later extended the truce indefinitely.

Tensions flared anew on Sunday when Iran delivered its response to a US peace proposal through Pakistan — only for Trump to swiftly dismiss it as "totally unacceptable."

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