There is no need to pot the airlayered section. It can go directly into the ground. If you are concerned about having to water the in-ground fig, just remember the fig in the ground will require less water than a potted fig. Use mulch to help conserve water.

Fall is the ideal time to plant figs in the middle east. The roots will grow slowly into the soil during the winter in Israel. In the spring you should see the tree start to grow with vigor.

I do not plant any of my fig trees till they are well established and ready to outgrow a 5 gallon pot. At that size and stage, they require a lot let attention. Freshly air-layered plants are generally not ready for outdoor, inground life, as they have been traumatized by the loss of the parent's extensive root system, and need time to develop their own. This would be mitigated if it is only a small twig, as opposed to a larger branch. There is seldom any advantage to rushing to get a plant planted in the ground at the expense of being sure it is well established.

Jon, I've had the opposite results here in the east. I've found that small, well rooted airlayered plants will establish themselves quicker than older, root bound plants which will often languish for years before kicking in. This may seem odd at first, but I believe it lies in large part to the root mass of the older potted fig. The root mass is tangled, crowded, and chokes on itself. The younger plant is still very vigorous and will send its roots out away from the center to establish a healthier plant. You might want to increase the root ratio over the aerial parts in your airlayering to see if this will help. A thick mulch will also help with the moisture in drier climates.

Gene,

That is interesting information. I didn't mean pot-bound, when I said "outgrow", only that the plant was of sufficient size to be consistent with a 5 gallon pot soil/root mass. I usually move them up in size when I first see roots poking out a bottom hole, but before they are pot-bound.