Israeli Government Approves Over 1 Billion Shekels for Roads in West Bank Settlements

The Israeli government is set to approve a comprehensive plan allocating 1.075 billion shekels for the construction and upgrading of access roads and security routes in the West Bank on Sunday. The budget will be divided between the Ministries of Transportation and Defense to address urgent security infrastructure needs not covered by standard development plans. The multi-year program includes planning and paving new roads, upgrading existing routes, and connecting strategic settlements.

A dedicated portion of the funds will support four settlements in northern Samaria, Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim, that were previously evacuated, along with numerous other communities established or planned by government decisions. Finance and Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the move as "historic," emphasizing its strategic importance for strengthening Israel's security and settlement presence in key West Bank locations. He highlighted that the initiative supports over 100 settlements and 160 farms, ensuring regulated and secure transportation routes integrated with critical security components.

Smotrich also noted that any future establishment or formalization of settlements will be automatically included in this planning framework, which aims to remove obstacles and expedite necessary approvals.