Two massive floodgates were activated for the first time at Ariel Sharon Park, marking a major step in Israel's largest flood control project. The system, which will eventually include six gates, is designed to regulate runoff from the Ayalon basin and nearby streams, channeling excess water into large retention ponds to reduce flooding risks in the Dan region, including Tel Aviv and areas near Ben Gurion Airport.

The facility, spanning about 6,000 dunams, can hold up to six million cubic meters of water and is expected to begin initial operations in early March. Authorities emphasize that while the project will significantly lower the risk of flooding, it cannot fully prevent inundation during extreme weather events. The project, costing around 1.5 billion shekels, is seen as a crucial innovation for managing increasingly intense rainfall linked to climate change and supporting ongoing urban development in central Israel.