Israel's Land Authority launched an expedited process to move military bases outside populated cities in central Israel, to free land for the construction of some 60,000 housing units after the war with Iran.
The 12-day conflict with Iran highlighted the need after some of the buildings that were hit and destroyed in Iranian missile attacks were near bases, including the military general headquarters in Tel Aviv.
3 View gallery
An Iranian ballistic missile hits a residential apartment block in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Yariv Katz)
3 View gallery
An Iranian ballistic missile hits a residential apartment block in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Dana Kopel)
Some plans have already been approved, while others, including the IDF HQ, received government approval but were expected to be implemented only in 2030.
An Iranian ballistic missile hits a residential apartment block in Tel Aviv
(Ido Erez)
The intelligence base and the neighboring military college in Ramat HaSharon are scheduled to be relocated to Jerusalem and the south, respectively in 2027, but the authority intends to implement it earlier. The authority intends to sign an agreement with the municipality that will allow the construction of 7,500 new housing units within two years.
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Although some bases that are destined to be moved out of populated areas are not located in the center of the country, the Finance Ministry is pushing for the plans pertaining to the center to be implemented first, because of the financial benefit expected in the sale of the land.
The decision to move bases out of cities in central Israel was made by the government in 2011. The Land Authority said that the Defense Ministry controls the most land in Israel for bases and training grounds. They note that moving bases to the periphery of the country would strengthen the population there.