Israel Approves Historic Plan to Double Route 60 Capacity in West Bank

The Israeli government has approved a significant infrastructure plan to expand Route 60, the main transportation artery in the West Bank, from the British Police Junction to Tapuach Junction. The project will widen the road to four lanes, two in each direction, aiming to improve travel safety, reduce congestion, and enhance security for tens of thousands of residents and commuters in the region. This development is part of a broader effort to strengthen and develop Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, supporting the goal of reaching one million residents in the area.

Finance and Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised the approval, emphasizing that the expansion and related settlement development are strategic moves to prevent the establishment of a "terror state" in the heart of Israel. He thanked the Civil Administration and the Settlement Division for their professional and dedicated work, noting that the improved road will enable continuous travel between Jerusalem and the West Bank, enhancing residents' quality of life.

Israel Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, also welcomed the decision, calling it a major milestone for both Binyamin and Israel. He highlighted ongoing upgrades to all major roads in Binyamin and expressed gratitude to ministers Smotrich and Miri Regev for their leadership in this historic infrastructure initiative. Alongside the road expansion, hundreds of new housing units were approved in the settlement of Eli, including neighborhoods established in memory of fallen soldiers.