Adapted from Hebrew reporting by Eliya Aviv, Judea and Samaria Desk
The Israeli government approved a dramatic decision Sunday to allocate over 1 billion shekels (over $300 million) specifically for developing infrastructure and access roads to dozens of new communities and outposts in Judea and Samaria. The move, led by Finance Minister and Defense Ministry Minister Bezalel Smotrich, aims to cement the status of communities established over the past year and ensure their accessibility.
Over the past year, the government approved the establishment of more than 100 new towns in Judea and Samaria. Many of these are located in open, remote areas, and without proper transportation infrastructure they remain relatively isolated. The new budget is designed to create a systemic solution that will ensure security and accessibility for residents, and turn the communities into an integral part of the state’s road and infrastructure map in the region.
The plan includes a total budget of more than 1 billion shekels, which will be transferred as a dedicated addition from the Finance Ministry for implementation over the next two years. As part of the immediate planning, an initial investment of about 3 million shekels will be allocated for formulating plans and completing the initial planning stage. According to the timelines set, the government determined that the detailed plan for paving the roads will be brought for approval within just 45 days.
The decision is considered a significant strategic step, as it provides broad-scale infrastructure backing for the accelerated heartland development recorded over the past year. Sources involved in the plan note that this is a scale of development not seen in many years in Judea and Samaria.
Beyond the budgetary aspect, the move signals the government’s intention to cement the existence of the new outposts permanently and to equalize the level of infrastructure in them with all residential areas in the country. Work on the ground is expected to begin after approval of the detailed plan and completion of early planning stages.