Bible Trails Project Launches in West Bank With New Suspension Bridge

A new initiative to create Bible-themed hiking trails in the West Bank, known as the "Bible Trails Project," has officially begun with the laying of a cornerstone for its first component, "Joshua's Trail," in the settlement of Alon Moreh. This initial phase involves the construction of an accessible tourist promenade featuring a suspension bridge. The bridge will connect the Alon Moreh Heritage Center to the summit of the Har Kabir Nature Reserve.

The project is budgeted at 3.2 million shekels and aims to integrate the landscapes of Samaria, heritage sites, and biblical narratives. Tourism Minister Haim Katz stated that "in Samaria, the story is in the field, in the places where the events that shaped our history took place." He emphasized that developing tourism is part of building the land, connecting people to the place, strengthening settlements, and fostering growth, envisioning Samaria as "the Tuscany of Israel" due to its unique landscapes, vineyards, wineries, history, and heritage.

Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu described the cornerstone-laying as a "living expression of the connection between heritage, settlement, and revival," calling it a national duty to continue building, deepening roots, and making ancestral heritage accessible. Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, added that the area, once walked by the nation's patriarchs, is now being made accessible to many hikers, asserting that the response to challenges is to continue building and developing tourism in the "heart of the Land of the Bible."