The government is expected to approve a plan to promote Highway 60 as “The Bible Road,” turning one of the country’s main north-south routes into a heritage, history and tourism corridor.
Highway 60 runs from Be'er Sheva in southern Israel to Nof Hagalil in the north, passing through or near many sites associated with biblical narratives, Jewish history and modern Zionism, including Jerusalem, Hebron, Bethlehem, Shiloh, Gush Etzion, Mount Gilboa and the Jezreel Valley.
Parts of the route pass through the West Bank, territory the Palestinians seek for a future state and where Israeli settlements are considered illegal by most of the international community. Israel disputes that view.
Under the plan, “The Bible Road” would become a tourism and public diplomacy brand linking heritage sites, archaeological areas, nature attractions, innovation hubs and cultural destinations along the historic route.
The initiative is expected to include visitor centers, lookout points, multilingual signage and educational programs aimed at making the history of the Land of Israel accessible to Israeli and foreign visitors.
In Jerusalem, the route is expected to connect with major heritage sites, including the City of David and the Old City, as well as academic, economic and innovation centers meant to highlight the connection between Israel’s past and present.
Yishai Fleisher, a member of the Efrat local council and international spokesman for the Jewish community in Hebron, called the expected government decision a national and strategic move.
“Highway 60 is much more than a transportation road — it is the route on which a large part of the story of the Jewish people was written,” Fleisher said. “Turning it into ‘The Bible Road’ will connect the ancient history of the land with the modern State of Israel.”
Supporters compare the planned route to well-known heritage roads such as Route 66 in the United States, the Camino de Santiago in Spain and Germany’s Romantic Road.
The next stage is expected to include interministerial planning to map sites, allocate funding, develop infrastructure and prepare an international campaign promoting “The Bible Road” as a global heritage destination.