Israel's Ghost Cities: From Destroyed Yamit to New Negev Projects
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Israel has a history of ambitious city-building projects that have often failed to be fully realized. Yamit, in the Sinai, was dismantled after its evacuation in 1982, and plans for a residential area at Jerusalem's Atarot Airport stalled due to US diplomatic pressure. New cities are planned for the Negev, but require further investment and infrastructure development.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel has a history of ambitious urban development projects that have often stalled.
- The city of Yamit in the Sinai was dismantled after its evacuation in 1982.
- Plans for a residential area at Jerusalem's former Atarot Airport site have stalled.
- New cities are planned for the Negev, including Kasif, Plugot, and Tila.
- These Negev projects require further approvals, investment, and infrastructure.
Israel has a history of ambitious urban development plans that have often stalled due to political disagreements, funding issues, or lengthy planning stages. Many proposed cities, designed for tens or hundreds of thousands of residents, have failed to materialize.
A prime example is Yamit, located in the northern Sinai Peninsula. Construction began in 1975 with a projected population of up to 200,000. However, by 1982, only about 5,000 people lived there. Following the peace treaty with Egypt, Israel evacuated the residents and completely dismantled the city.
Another stalled project involves the former Atarot Airport in Jerusalem. Plans to build a residential area with 9,000 apartments on the site were halted due to diplomatic reactions from the United States.
New cities are planned for the Negev region, including Kasif (100,000-125,000 residents), Plugot (150,000 residents), and Tila (approximately 80,000 residents). Despite government initiatives, their development requires further approvals, significant investment, and the creation of essential infrastructure.