IAA CEO Gabi Ofir: "Building a prayer room for Muslims is an important step toward improving the service to all populations passing through Ben Gurion Airport."

Israel Airports Authority CEO, Gabi Ofir, has instructed the management of Ben Gurion Airport regarding the construction of a prayer room for members of the Muslim community, as part of the IAA management's efforts to improve passenger services. The prayer room for Muslims will be equipped to fulfill ritual requirements for prayer, such as the cleansing of place, body and clothing.

The initiative for setting up a prayer room is yet another step in the IAA's efforts to strengthen its relations with the Arab sector, and responds to the requests addressed to the IAA for establishing a prayer room. This initiative joins several other projects run by the IAA for reinforcing ties with the Arab sector. The most  prominent of these is the establishment of a Unit responsible for relations with minorities, which  operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and assists in the orientation and guidance of Arabic speaking passengers  at the Terminal. In addition, a joint team of the IAA and the Civic Accord Forum was set up, in order to enable an ongoing dialogue between the IAA and representatives of the Arab population. Also, the IAA has recently launched a comprehensive website in Arabic, a welcome addition to other IAA publications in Arabic, such as information leaflets, signs, and more.

The prayer room will be built on an area of approximately 20 sq. m. and will face south-east. At the entrance to the room a washbasin will be placed, for the ceremonial cleansing of those who enter, as well as a comfortable sitting bench 35 cm high. Also, the room will be covered with carpets and will have a niche facing in the direction of Mecca. A library with copies of the Koran will be set up in the room. A program for the Muslim prayer room has been prepared by the Director of the Ethnic Communities Division at the Ministry of the Interior, and will constitute a part of the detailed planning for the project’s implementation.

Israel Airports Authority CEO, Gabi Ofir, has outlined the policy for enhancing ties with the Arab sector as part of the IAA's overall policy. Within this framework, Ofir works a great deal to improve services to the Arab population at Ben Gurion Airport and at the border crossings.