Israeli government officials toured the country’s border with Jordan on Tuesday as part of efforts to strengthen security and support local communities, the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a joint statement with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Settlement Division.
The high-level team, led by Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, Acting Prime Minister’s Office Director General Drorit Steinmetz and Settlement Division Director General Avi Meir, is tasked with drafting a five-year plan to expand settlements and strengthen Israel’s presence along the strategic border.
The team includes roughly 20 senior officials from the defense, finance, agriculture, tourism, interior and economy ministries.
During the tour of the Arava and Jordan Valley, the officials met with IDF Central Command and regional council leaders to discuss security, infrastructure, communications, agriculture, employment and health challenges in the region.
The plan, expected to be submitted for Cabinet approval in early January, aims to establish a coordinated government strategy to upgrade the border region.
“The eastern region is the longest border of the State of Israel. The many challenges along it were greatly sharpened during the war, and they cannot rely solely on the security barrier, which is currently being advanced,” said Baram.
“Beyond security, a whole ecosystem is required, starting with settlement, which cannot exist without employment, transportation, water, agriculture, health and more,” he continued. “We must act quickly to stay ahead of the processes evolving from Iran and its proxies in the region.”
Steinmetz said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views strengthening the eastern border with Jordan as “a top national-Zionist mission,” while Meir added, “With determination and hard work, we are doing Zionism and making history.”
