Chairman Moshe Gafni of the Knesset Finance Committee expressed his opposition on Thursday to the closure of Sde Dov Airport in Tel Aviv at the end of the month to make way for housing.
Speaking at the start of a special committee meeting on the subject, Gafni said, "Many of us believe that the significance of this matter is irreversible damage to the city of Eilat. In a normal country we cannot allow this thing. Referring to a city of fools from Jewish folklore, he said, "To close Sde Dov on July 1 would be Chelm. Why must it be done early? It may be that during the three years until the actual construction, we can reach agreements and avoid bringing great suffering to Eilat."