Israeli airport to get Muslim prayer room

TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The Israeli Airport Authority plans to set up a prayer room for Muslims in Ben Gurion International Airport.

Gabi Ofir, the authority's CEO, said Thursday that the room will be a small mosque 60 feet square with a library of Islamic prayer books and a niche facing Mecca, The Jerusalem Post reported. There will be a water trough outside for purification and a rest bench.

The authority has taken a number of steps to build relationships with Muslim travelers. They include setting up a Web site in Arabic, putting up Arabic signs around Ben Gurion and creating a Unit for Relations with Minorities that provides assistance in Arabic.

From 20,000 to 50,000 passengers use the airport every day.