The massive plan to expand the city in the Judean Lowlands meets opposition

A massive plan to expand Beit Shemesh eastward, over sensitive green areas, is facing opposition from KKL-JNF. The district committee is expected to discuss the plan to cross Highway 10 and develop approximately 980 dunams. KKL-JNF argues that the city can grow to over 550,000 residents without harming these areas, presenting a negligible gap of only about 3,000 housing units between the plans.

A massive plan to expand the city of Beit Shemesh eastward, beyond Highway 10, is facing opposition from KKL-JNF. The district planning and building committee is expected to discuss the plan, which includes the development of approximately 980 dunams of valuable green areas, comprising neighborhoods V'2 (270 dunams), V'3 (320 dunams), neighborhood H (230 dunams), and an additional development strip of about 160 dunams. KKL-JNF does not oppose the growth of Beit Shemesh but sees importance in making it an independent and strong city. Data analysis shows that the gap between the original plan (about 111,474 housing units and 569,669 residents) and KKL-JNF's environmental alternative (about 553,000 residents) stands at only about 3,000 housing units – about 4.8% of the total new housing volume. KKL-JNF claims this figure undermines the argument for crossing Highway 10. Furthermore, the alternative plan criticizes the transportation justification, as an addition of 3,000 housing units does not justify building a light rail along the road. Due to the topography and the Zanoah stream channel, KKL-JNF warns that the road cannot become a continuous urban street, and the move will create an isolated area and harm the protected space of the Judean Hills.