Haifa panel to review new Druze town, with Yavor Junction leading the shortlist

The Haifa District Planning and Building Committee is set to discuss next week the creation of a new Druze settlement, a plan that has been under consideration since 1998. According to the committee, about 150,000 Druze live in Israel across 21 communities, and in 13 of those towns the Druze make up at least 95% of residents. The proposed settlement would be a community-style town with about 1,000 housing units on roughly 600 dunams.

Over the years, planners examined several sites, including the ruins of Iblan and, about a decade ago, Ahuzat Naftali, also known as Kfar Hittin. In January 2025, the High Court of Justice issued a conditional order requiring the state to report on progress toward establishing the town. The current shortlist includes five options, Yavor Junction, Hoshaya Interchange, Usha, Ein Tot, and Kfar Hittin.

According to Globes, the highest-scoring option is Yavor Junction, east of Route 70 and northwest of Kabul, within the Mateh Asher Regional Council. Its advantages include moderate environmental sensitivity, proximity to Ahihud railway station, Route 70 and power lines, and the fact that the land is state-owned. Its main drawback is that it is now used for agriculture.

The same report also noted strong demand in a land sale near Route 6 and Kiryat Gat, where three commercial and employment plots in Sde Moshe drew 42 bids and sold above appraised value. In Ramat Gan, the Tel Aviv District Committee approved deposit of three urban renewal plans totaling 950 new apartments, including projects in Nahalat Ganim, HaRishonim and HaBiluyim.