Nakash Brothers Sign Agreement for Investor Group to Take Control of Arkia

The Nakash brothers announced on November 12 that an investor group had signed an agreement to acquire control of Arkia. Under the agreement, the investors would inject tens of millions of dollars into the Israeli airline and receive a majority of its shares. The transaction would make the group Arkia’s controlling shareholder. The group comprises Einav Adiv-Barer, Kidan Dahari, Yaron Adiv and Yariv Lerner. Adiv-Barer owns medical centers including TLV Medical Center. Dahari and Adiv own the property businesses Yishpro and Tnuport, while Lerner chairs and co-owns Negev Group. Avi Hurmero, chief executive of the Nakash Group, led the process for brothers Rafi, Joe and Avi Nakash. “We believe in Arkia and in Israel’s aviation sector,” the purchasing group said, translated from Hebrew. It described a long-term commitment and said the investment was intended to stabilize the airline, strengthen its business and secure continued operations for employees and passengers. The precise investment, company valuation and shareholding percentage were not disclosed, and no completion timetable was specified. Earlier on November 12, the Histadrut’s Transport Workers Union declared a labor dispute at Arkia. It alleged unilateral efficiency measures and staffing cuts without agreement with employee representatives, alongside uncertainty over workers’ conditions and shareholdings. Arkia’s spokesperson confirmed receiving the notice and said operations were continuing normally, scheduled flights were operating and passenger service was unaffected at that stage.