Israel will establish six new Jewish communities in the Benjamin region in the coming months with an investment of tens of millions of shekels, the regional council announced. The initiative, based on a cabinet decision, aims to counter what officials describe as a ‘Palestinian’ Authority takeover plan in the area.
The Benjamin Regional Council is advancing what it calls one of the most significant national and strategic moves in the region in recent decades. Three communities will be built in western Benjamin and three in the east, designed to change the reality on the ground during what officials describe as a historic political window of opportunity.
In May 2026, we reported that 18 new towns were approved in Samaria under Governor Yossi Dagan’s “Reconnection Plan.” According the plan, the towns include four that were uprooted in 2005: Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim, plus 14 new communities. Some of them have already received government approval while the rest are pending cabinet authorization.
3+The move is based on a security cabinet decision to establish and regulate new Jewish communities. The council will invest tens of millions of shekels to build six full towns out of 13 points approved by the cabinet. The new towns will be established in two strategic wings: along the mountain ridge in western Benjamin, bridging Jerusalem and central Israel, and in eastern Benjamin—in buffer zones controlling the Jordan Valley. These towns are expected to join Maoz Tzur, which was successfully established several months ago.
3+For years, these extensive areas stood without permanent Jewish presence. Under the controversial “Fayyad Plan,” the ‘Palestinian’ Authority identified the geopolitical importance of the area and began systematic illegal takeover of the land, aiming to choke off main arteries from the west and create a hostile continuum from the east. The establishment of the new towns represents what officials call a proactive Zionist response restoring Jewish hold and sovereignty, ensuring unshakeable Israeli control over Route 443 and national transportation arteries.
The new communities going up are: In western Benjamin—Natuf, Zivda, and Naot Harim—to fortify the seam line and defend the country’s narrow waist. In eastern Benjamin—Diya, Metzukei Eretz, and Kanfei Shachar—to guard the buffer zones overlooking the valley.
3+Benjamin Governor and Yesha Council chairman Israel Gantz called the move historic. “We are now leading together with the government and cabinet a first-rate move and deepening our hold in our homeland. In places where Jews haven’t walked for thousands of years, where our forefathers lived, we are establishing communities and making the heartland flourish,” Gantz said. “The equation here is simple: either we will be here, living in the State of Israel and establishing pioneering communities, or Ramallah and Iran’s terror regime will rule over the hills that look directly onto Ben Gurion Airport and Gush Dan.”
Gantz added an optimistic and combative message ahead of summer: “This coming summer, when millions of Israelis leave Ben Gurion Airport and fly off on vacation, they’ll be able to look down and know there’s a strong human chain on the ground protecting them. We’re not waiting, we’re bringing the Zionist vision to the ground and ensuring this piece of land remains Israeli forever.”
3+Gantz continued: “A historic move like this is made possible thanks to the deep partnership and backing we receive from the political echelon. I want to thank from the bottom of my heart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Energy Minister Eli Cohen, Central Command chief Major General Avi Bluth, our partners at Amana and the Nachala movement, and the other bodies working with us shoulder to shoulder and enabling us to advance and develop Judea and Samaria.”