Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich scored another dramatic win for Israeli community expansion in Judea and Samaria Thursday, securing government-wide approval for a massive master agreement in the city of Ariel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and all government ministries signed off on the deal, which will add 18,000 housing units to the city.
It’s only the second master agreement signed for a city in Judea and Samaria—the first was in Maale Adumim—and is expected to transform the entire region.
The agreement will add roughly 18,000 new housing units to the city. The move gives major momentum to the urban and demographic development of what’s known as the capital of Samaria.
Development under the agreement includes:
• Expansion of new neighborhoods: Massive construction of modern housing units to meet surging demand and accommodate young families.
• Strengthening older neighborhoods: Major investment in upgrading public spaces, infrastructure, and public buildings in existing neighborhoods.
• Cementing Ariel’s status: Substantial reinforcement of the city as a strong, thriving metropolis in the heart of the country.
The move is a major strategic step that demonstrates more than anything that residents and communities in Judea and Samaria are experiencing unprecedented growth and racing forward to cement their hold in the land of the patriarchs.