The Prime Minister affirmed Israeli sovereignty over a disputed area by announcing the expansion of Jewish settlements
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a historic framework agreement to advance the largest urban expansion of Ma’aleh Adumim since its founding in 1975.
The measure, which includes thousands of new homes and a multi-million dollar investment, consolidates Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria and reinforces Netanyahu's vision: "There will never be a Palestinian state. This land is ours".
The event took place in Ma’aleh Adumim, a strategic city located east of Jerusalem with more than 37,000 residents. Netanyahu was accompanied by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Housing Minister Haim Katz, Mayor Guy Yifrah, and senior officials.
Prime Minister Netanyahu in the announcement of the expansion in Judea and Samaria
The agreement includes the construction of 7,606 residential units on state land, as well as an ambitious urban renewal plan, commercial and employment areas covering 20,000 m² (215,278 square feet).
The total investment, close to 3 billion shekels (about 800 million dollars), includes 420 million for road infrastructure, drainage, water, electricity, and transportation, and another 340 million for public institutions and community services. With this plan, Ma’aleh Adumim's population is expected to nearly double in the coming years.
Minister Katz described the agreement as a "historic milestone in Judea and Samaria" and announced additional measures to support reservists and combat soldiers through housing programs with discounts of up to 80%. "We are expanding the housing supply and improving citizen services after years of stagnation," he stated.
Meanwhile, Mayor Yifrah emphasized the importance of the agreement in the city's jubilee year: "It has been more than 20 years since a new neighborhood was built. This agreement opens up enormous opportunities to continue building, renew the old, and strengthen the community."
The Director General of the Ministry of Housing, Yehuda Morgenstern, stressed that the plan will turn Ma’aleh Adumim into a city that is "attractive, accessible, and innovative," and a model of urban development for all of Israel.
The decision comes at a key moment, following the recent approval of the E1 project, adjacent to Ma’aleh Adumim, which had been frozen for more than a decade due to international pressure.
Despite criticism from Western governments and NGOs, Israel keeps its firm stance: to guarantee its security, preserve its heritage, and strengthen its historical right over the land of Judea and Samaria.
Netanyahu summed it up clearly during the ceremony: "We will defend our heritage, our land and our security. This place is and will remain an inseparable part of the people of Israel."
