From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Netanyahu reopens Kiryat Shmona Airport, promises to act against every threat
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
In order to ensure the security of residents of northern Israel, the government has changed its policy, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a special weekly cabinet meeting in Kiryat Shmona on the border with Lebanon.
“There is no containment, no leniency,” says Netanyahu. “We act against every threat in real time and on an ongoing basis, and we will continue to do so.”
He announces a multi-phase plan which begins with grants and investments in housing, business, healthcare and communication. Within 45 days, Netanyahu promises, an NIS 400 million package will be announced, followed by a larger investment of billions of shekels.
The plan includes the transformation of the Tel-Hai Academic College into the University of Kiryat Shmona.
Standing next to the runway, Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Miri Regev announce the reopening of the Kiryat Shmona Airport to civilian traffic for the first time in over two decades.
Netanyahu says that Israel is going to push air, rail, and high-speed road transportation to the city.
“People will be able to travel by train and reach Tel Aviv in under an hour,” he promises.
According to Regev, there will be commercial flights to Ben Gurion Airport and to Eilat. She contradicts the prime minister — who likely meant to refer to air travel — and says that rail travel to Tel Aviv will take two hours.
The Times of Israel Community.