Israeli Government Approves Over NIS 1 Billion for Roads to New West Bank Settlements
The Israeli government is set to approve on Sunday a budget exceeding 1 billion shekels (NIS 1.075 billion) to fund the construction of access and security roads for dozens of new settlements in the West Bank. This initiative follows the cabinet's approval to establish these settlements, including the four northern Samaria communities evacuated during the disengagement plan: Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim. The budget will be divided between the Ministries of Defense and Transportation.
The plan, led by Finance and Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich after two months of professional work by the Settlement Administration, aims to address the urgent need for secure access routes to the new settlements. The government explained that these infrastructure costs cannot be covered by the usual land development budgets. A detailed multi-year plan was developed in collaboration between the Transportation Ministry, the Settlement Administration, and the Finance Ministry.
The budget will be spread over three years and will cover the planning and paving of new access roads, upgrading existing roads, and completing connecting segments between settlements. Security components will be integrated into the infrastructure planning from the outset. Furthermore, any future government decisions to establish or regularize additional settlements in the West Bank will automatically be included in this multi-year framework and receive dedicated infrastructure funding.
Minister Smotrich hailed the decision as historic, stating it will enable the establishment of dozens of settlements in strategic locations, strengthening Israel's security and countering efforts to establish a terror state within Israel. He emphasized that the plan also counters previous government initiatives aimed at evacuating new settlements by ensuring secure and organized transportation routes.
Officials noted that this infrastructure investment is part of a broader effort to expand settlement in the West Bank, facilitating the population and integration of new communities into the regional transportation network while meeting the area's security requirements.
