Lod

Lod is a city in the Central District of Israel, located in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area about 20 kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv. It sits on the coastal plain near the eastern edge of the region and is adjacent to Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel’s main international airport.

The city is known by several names: in Hebrew it is Lod, in Arabic al-Lud, and in historical sources it is identified as Lydda. The site has a long history extending back to antiquity, when Lydda was a major center in the Judean Lowlands and is mentioned in biblical and early Christian texts, including accounts of Peter’s miracles in the area.

Under subsequent eras, Lod was part of the Ottoman Empire and later the British Mandate. In 1948, during the Arab-Israeli War, Israeli forces captured Lydda and nearby Ramle, and a large number of Palestinian residents fled or were expelled in the aftermath. After the war, Jewish settlement expanded, and Lod developed as part of the greater Tel Aviv corridor.

In the modern era, Lod is dominated by Ben Gurion Airport, which is located on its outskirts and serves as the country’s principal international gateway. The city is also a major rail and road junction, with a central railway station and connections linking Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and the southern regions. Development and renewal projects have sought to address housing, infrastructure, and social challenges in the mixed Jewish–Arab community.

Lod is governed by a city council within the Tel Aviv District. Its population comprises Jewish and Arab residents, and the city continues to balance urban growth with efforts to improve economic opportunities and living conditions.