The first umbrella agreement in Judea and Samaria was signed yesterday (Sunday) in Karnei Shomron, in the presence of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz, Israel Land Authority Director Yehuda Eliyahu, Karnei Shomron Council Chairman Yonatan Kuznitz, and other senior officials. The agreement, worth approximately 2 billion shekels, was formulated in cooperation with the local council, the Israeli government, and the Israel Land Authority. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was forced to cancel his participation in the ceremony at the last minute, sent a congratulatory video to the council chairman and the participants.
According to the agreement, approximately 6,000 new housing units are expected to be built, along with extensive investments in infrastructure, public institutions, education, culture, transportation, commercial and employment areas, and the development of public space. It was also reported that the move is expected to expand the borders of Karnei Shomron and strengthen its position as a significant regional center in the heart of Samaria. The agreement also includes investments in the old neighborhoods and upgrading the quality of life of the residents as part of a long-term development plan.
During the ceremony, Smotrich spoke and also addressed the political pressures exerted against Israel. “The time has come to decide in Judea and Samaria as well and to apply sovereignty even before the elections,” he said. According to him, applying sovereignty would be “the victorious answer to the political attack that is being waged against us in the world.”
Israel Land Authority Director Yehuda Eliyahu defined the signing of the agreement as a “historic moment,” while Council Chairman Yonatan Kuznitz said that this is one of the most significant moves in the history of the Jewish presence, which will lay the foundations for Karnei Shomron to become a major regional hub in the years to come.