NEVATIM NOW

Aliza Pilichowski’s “Ethical dilemmas and negligence” (February 12) struck a chord with me. The same kind of situation exists in the North. It’s not about a garbage incinerator, it’s about an airport and the faceless powers that be who seem to have a penchant for ignoring the needs of the populace in favor of projects close to their greedy little hearts.

Here in the Jezreel Valley, other powers that be want to build an airport as an addition to the one at Ben-Gurion. The proposed airport will use the existing small base at Ramat David as a starting point for the construction of a huge airport that will encompass the area between Nahalal and Megiddo. In the process, not only will the environment be destroyed, but also thousands of livelihoods; farmers will be forced to give up their way of life because where there is farming, there is water, and where there is water, there are birds – many flocks traverse the valley during their annual migration. Birds, however, are dangerous for airplanes, so their nesting places and stopping places would have to be taken away.

In addition, there are corners of the valley that hold untouched pockets of beauty that will be destroyed. Tourism will disappear. All the towns and villages in the area will fall victim to air and noise pollution, and property values will drop because who wants to live near an airport? Traffic congestion, already a problem here, will increase. Water resources will be destroyed, as will any historic sites.

There is an alternative: Nevatim. An air force base there has room for expansion. Because there is a smaller population in the area, it would be possible to expand the base in a way that people will not be displaced or bothered by the noise. In addition, it will bring more people to the Negev, and, from what I understand, the project would be welcomed by the municipal and regional councils.

Most of the regional/ municipal councils in the Jezreel Valley are not excited about the proposed airport. True, it would bring jobs to this area, but at what price?

There is a strong movement against this step by the government to build an airport here. See what’s happening and join the protest! www.facebook. com/no.airport.izrael ELAINE GOLDSTEIN

Tzipori