Israel Approves NIS 250 Million Plan to Preserve Heritage Sites in Judea and Samaria, the Jordan Valley, and the Judean Desert

The government today (Wednesday) approved a sweeping 250 million-shekel plan to rescue, preserve, develop, and make heritage and antiquities sites more accessible in Judea and Samaria, the Jordan Valley, and the Judean Desert. Under the decision, new regional heritage centers will be established, tourism infrastructure will be developed, efforts to protect against looting and the destruction of antiquities will be expanded, and the Israeli public’s connection to the historical heritage assets of the Jewish people in the area will be strengthened.

In a joint statement from the Prime Minister’s Office and other government ministries, officials said that "this is an unprecedented move aimed at protecting sites of the highest historical, cultural, and national importance for the Jewish people. According to the decision, the new heritage centers will serve as anchors for research, education, tourism, and community development, and will include visitor centers, interactive exhibits, educational activities, and partnerships with academic and research institutions."

It was also stated that a multi-year plan will be advanced to build and upgrade public tourism infrastructure in the area on the scale of tens of millions of shekels, as part of strengthening the status of the heritage sites and turning them into major visitor destinations in Israel. Alongside preservation and enforcement efforts, there is a need to create a regular and organized civilian and tourism presence that will serve as a meaningful deterrent against the looting and destruction of antiquities, as well as to strengthen the connection between the public and the historical identity of the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "In the year in which we will mark 60 years since the liberation of Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem, the heart of our homeland, the Government of Israel is making a decision of the highest national and historical importance. Buried in nearly every stone, tel, and heritage site are thousands of years of Jewish history in the Land of Israel. Today we are investing in preserving our past in order to secure our future, strengthen our hold on the Land of Israel, and pass on to future generations the heritage, identity, and historical truth of our people."

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said: "Since the beginning of this term, we have been leading a revolution in Judea and Samaria, במסגרת which we approved more than one hundred new communities, tens of thousands of housing units, and no fewer than 160 new farms that safeguard one million dunams of state land. At the same time, it was important for us to strengthen the connection of the entire people of Israel to the heritage of the region and to the history of the Jewish people in these places. Contrary to international hypocrisy, a nation cannot be an occupier in its own land."

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu added: "This is a Zionist, historic, and values-based decision of the highest order. After many long years in which the heritage sites of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria were neglected and at times even left vulnerable to destruction and looting, the State of Israel is today making a historic correction. We are restoring Jewish heritage to its rightful place, investing in preserving our history, and connecting future generations to the deep roots of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel.".