Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has approved the expansion of Highway 465 in the West Bank, a move that doubles the route’s capacity and strengthens connectivity between settlements in the Mateh Binyamin region.
The project is framed by the government as a critical upgrade for safety and quality of life, but it intensifies concerns over the entrenchment of Israeli presence in occupied territories.
Earlier this year, the Israeli government approved a budget exceeding NIS 1 billion for road construction and improvements linking West Bank settlements.
The decision aligns with a broader government strategy to invest heavily in settlement infrastructure.
Earlier this year, the Israeli government approved a budget exceeding NIS 1 billion for road construction and improvements linking West Bank settlements.
This latest approval signals a continuation of that policy, prioritizing physical integration of settlement blocs despite international criticism.
The expansion has drawn sharp condemnation from Israeli non-governmental organizations, which have previously criticized similar infrastructure proposals.