The ambitious “Million in Samaria” plan is entering a practical phase: Minister of Construction and Housing Yitzhak Goldknopf announced today (Thursday) the allocation of 30 million shekels for the immediate planning of 13 new cities and five industrial zones in Samaria. The announcement was made from the temporary office of Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, established near the site where Tzeela Gaz, of blessed memory, was murdered.
A Response to Terror: Building and Growth
This move comes just days after the deadly terrorist attack near Bruchin and is widely seen as a firm message: construction in place of destruction.
“Terror is trying to drive us out – and we will respond with growth,” said Dagan. According to him, the funding will allow for the planning of infrastructure for tens of thousands of housing units, industrial zones, a hospital, a railway, an airport, and new communities – some in areas evacuated during the Disengagement.
Vision: One Million Residents by 2050
The initiative aims to increase Samaria’s population from 140,000 to 1.15 million by the year 2050, through the construction of new cities (including “Rehavam” and “Gilboa”), expansion of existing communities (such as Itamar, Hermesh, and Elon Moreh), and connecting them to regional and intercity transportation networks.
“This is a Historic Step”
“Construction in Samaria is a security, economic, and Zionist response. Samaria is the heart of the land – and we are strengthening it for the sake of the entire People of Israel,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Dagan concluded: “This is a historic step that will reshape the State of Israel and secure the future of settlement. Jewish blood will not be abandoned – we will honor Tzeela’s memory by building the land.”
