West Bank settlement of Givat Ze'ev officially declared an Israeli city
Givat Ze'ev, a West Bank settlement near Jerusalem, has been officially upgraded from a local council to an Israeli city.Summary
Givat Ze'ev, a West Bank settlement located five kilometers northwest of Jerusalem, has been officially declared an Israeli city following a decree signed by IDF Central Command Chief Avi Bluth. The settlement, which was founded in 1977 and is home to nearly 35,000 residents, has transitioned from a local council to a recognized municipality to better align its municipal framework with planned development and residential services.
Mayor Yossi Asraf described the move as a "historic moment" and a "massive growth engine" for the Jerusalem envelope. The upgrade is supported by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who emphasized the importance of strengthening settlements to serve as a protective barrier for major Israeli cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
(Source：Jpost)