Under the agreement, the state will invest a total of approximately NIS 6 billion in the development and significant upgrading of transportation, drainage, water, and sewage infrastructures, as well as in the enhancement of public institutions, educational facilities, and healthcare services.
The agreement is expected to serve as a significant lever for the continued growth of Kiryat Gat and to strengthen its status as a central city in the south of Israel. The new neighborhoods will be designed with a focus on urban quality of life, transportation connectivity, accessibility to public services, and the creation of new hubs for employment, commerce, and leisure.
The signing of the agreement in Kiryat Gat joins a series of other master plan agreements that the Israel Land Authority has signed over the past year with local authorities across the country, including Ramat HaSharon, Yeruham, and Ofakim. These agreements plan for the construction of approximately 81,000 new housing units, alongside a total investment of about NIS 13 billion in the development and upgrading of urban and national infrastructures. Master plan agreements are a central element in the policy of increasing housing supply, which the ILA has been leading in recent years.
The new agreement will apply to the Carmei Gat East neighborhood, where the National Outline Plan Committee (NOPC) recently approved Phase A, which includes about 12,000 new housing units, including approximately 400 designated for special housing. The next phase, Phase B, is expected to add about 9,000 additional housing units, so that the fourth agreement will cover a total of approximately 21,000 new housing units, all in modern high-density construction, ranging from nine-story buildings to towers of 28 stories and higher.
Following previous neighborhoods, Carmei Gat East is planned from the outset as a mixed-use complex of residential, commercial, employment, and green spaces, with physical and urban connectivity to the old city and the new neighborhoods (Carmei Gat and Carmei Gat North).
The plan also includes a connection to the Intel interchange on National Road 35, the expansion of Road 353, and five new bridges-three for vehicles and two for pedestrians-to cross the Tel Aviv–Beersheba railway and connect different parts of the city to the new neighborhood. Additionally, the Carmei Gat North train station will be expanded on its eastern side to accommodate future traffic volumes, along with hundreds of thousands of square meters for employment, commerce, and offices.
Unprecedented infrastructure planning and massive investment in infrastructure and education
The scale of development associated with the project is particularly impressive:
• Approximately 700,000 square meters for employment, commercial, and office spaces.
• Approximately 641,000 square meters for public institutions, including schools, kindergartens, synagogues, community centers, sports halls, youth centers, and more.
• Hundreds of dunams of green spaces and open areas, including a large park along the Lachish River and Tel Erani, north of Road 35 and at the edges of the new neighborhood.
Simultaneously, the relocation of national high-voltage power lines (400 kV and 161 kV) and a wastewater reservoir is planned, alongside the construction of a power substation, a water reservoir, and new pumping stations.
The total cost of the project is estimated at over NIS 5 billion. The agreement will lead to a significant expansion of the education system, including hundreds of classrooms in daycare centers, kindergartens, schools, and more.
Smart and sustainable urban development
The "Carmei Gat East" plan is being developed as a model for the next generation of smart cities in Israel-a smart, green, and sustainable city that places people and residents at the center of planning and execution.
The project includes advanced technological infrastructures from the early stages of implementation, including a fiber-optic network, which will enable high-speed communication for public institutions, municipal services, and more.
As part of the plan, a new municipal control center will be established to manage and monitor security systems, cameras, lighting, transportation, and municipal maintenance in real time. Additionally, smart bus stations equipped with interactive screens and real-time reporting will be installed.
From an environmental perspective, emphasis is placed on sustainability and urban ecology principles, such as the extensive use of energy-efficient lighting systems, smart lighting poles, stormwater management for reuse, planting a thousand trees for natural shade and urban heat reduction, creating a nature reserve in Tel Erani combined with the rehabilitation of the Lachish River, bicycle paths, outdoor fitness facilities, and shaded rest areas. In addition, community gardens, dog parks, and dozens of playgrounds and sports facilities for all ages will be established throughout the neighborhood.
The goal is to create a human-centered, welcoming urban environment that encourages walking, community activity, and a healthy lifestyle while preserving environmental and landscape values. This represents a new approach to urban development: a city that is not only well-planned but also intelligently maintained, managed, and forward-thinking.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Residents of Kiryat Gat, your city is undergoing enormous change and tremendous growth. We are not satisfied with just building advanced industrial centers and top-tier educational institutions aim to break all possible glass ceilings and aim higher. We build and we succeed! And in the course of this growth process, you are also opening your hearts and your city to welcoming the residents of Nir Oz, who have been through the hardest of times, and that means a lot."
Construction and Housing Minister, Chaim Katz: "The master plan agreement in Kiryat Gat joins a series of agreements signed recently, aiming to expand housing supply across the country, with emphasis on the periphery, while upgrading infrastructure and public spaces and improving the quality of life for both existing and new residents."
"The agreement signed in the city provides a tangible housing solution, including construction, development of public spaces, and increased employment opportunities, which will strengthen the residents of the south and serve as an economic catalyst for the entire region. We will continue to remove obstacles, lead collaborations with local authorities, and ensure accessible housing for Israel’s younger generation."
Director of the Israel Land Authority, Yanki Quint: "The Authority continues its efforts to increase housing supply across the country to strengthen the trend of decreasing housing prices. The master plan agreement with Kiryat Gat is expected to serve as a significant growth engine for the city, creating hundreds of new jobs and attracting new populations."
"Over the past year, we have signed a series of master plan agreements with numerous authorities, which will yield tens of thousands of housing units in Israel in the coming years. Master plan agreements exemplify the advantage of centralized land management and allow significant budgeting for infrastructure development and upgrades that benefit millions of Israelis."
Mayor of Kiryat Gat, Kfir Swisa, said at the ceremony: "Today we signed a historic master plan agreement that will gradually add 21,000 housing units to the city. This agreement will make Kiryat Gat one of the top ten cities in Israel. In addition, hundreds of thousands of square meters of commercial space will be built, propelling our city forward, along with public institutions, educational facilities, business centers, leisure, culture, sports, and recreation-all planned precisely with strict attention to open spaces for public benefit."
"The apartments to be built will be available to the general public, as I promised. This is the largest agreement Kiryat Gat has seen since its establishment, and it is only natural that it is signed in its 70th year. I will continue to act with great dedication for our city. We will continue promoting the major transformation it is undergoing in all areas of life for the sake of our cherished residents. Together, we will make Kiryat Gat the city of the future in Israel."