Mevo Horon Reaches Landmark Agreement After 30 Years of Disputes

After approximately three decades of disputes, a significant agreement was signed this week in Mevo Horon between the cooperative moshav and the community. This accord is expected to pave the way for substantial growth and development in the settlement.

The agreement, ratified first by the cooperative moshav and then overwhelmingly supported by over 85% of the community in a vote, was finalized at a large gathering in the settlement. Central to the deal is the principle that the cooperative moshav will retain its existing rights, assets, and economic activities, while new development will become a shared engine for growth.

Under the terms of the agreement, the community association will be entitled to 50% of the net surplus generated from new economic activities in designated areas. These funds will be reinvested into Mevo Horon for development, public facilities, and essential services. Approximately 40 million shekels are allocated for the establishment of public buildings and the settlement's development.

Three core projects are slated for advancement in the near future, which are estimated to generate between one and three million shekels annually for the community. Furthermore, the agreement facilitates a plan to establish around 100 housing units in Mevo Horon. This development is expected to be supported by the aforementioned 40 million shekels for public infrastructure and settlement development.

Israel Gantz, head of the Benjamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, hailed the agreement as a historic opportunity, stating, "We have turned a 30-year dispute into a historic opportunity. Mevo Horon is entering a new era of construction, growth, and development. The agreement preserves what the founders of the moshav built while creating an economic foundation that will strengthen the community and allow the settlement to continue growing." He emphasized Mevo Horon's importance in western Benjamin and the ongoing efforts to develop the entire region.