Negev Mayors Urge Government Action to Save Rotem Amfert Plant Jobs

Negev Mayors Issue Urgent Appeal Over Rotem Amfert Future

The mayors of Beersheba, Dimona, Arad, and Yeruham have issued an urgent letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and key government ministers, warning of severe threats to thousands of jobs in the Negev if a solution is not found to secure the continued operation of the Rotem Amfert plant.

At the center of the dispute is the company's request to utilize Pool 4 for storing phosphogypsum industrial waste, ahead of Pool 5 reaching full capacity by early 2027. According to local leadership, the plan has undergone rigorous regulatory scrutiny over the years.

"The future of thousands of families in the Negev is at stake," the mayors wrote in their letter, emphasizing that the facility serves as a vital economic anchor for the region.

Economic Impact Versus Environmental Concerns

The plant directly employs approximately 1,000 workers, with thousands more depending on its operations through transport, subcontracting, and service supply chains. Concurrently, workers gathered for a protest outside the Knesset in Jerusalem to voice growing anxieties regarding their job security.

However, environmental organizations and advocacy groups such as Lobby 99 have sharply criticized the company's approach. Critics argue that Rotem Amfert is leveraging employee livelihoods to pressure decision-makers rather than investing in a permanent, sustainable waste management strategy.

Despite the controversy, municipal leaders insist that utilizing Pool 4 is merely an interim measure designed to prevent immediate shutdowns while long-term environmental solutions are advanced. They call on the government to balance ecological considerations with regional economic stability.