In a powerful ceremony on Sunday, Israel officially inaugurated the Gvaot Forest Scenic Route (Derech Nof Gvaot)—a spectacular 4.3-mile stretch of natural beauty cutting through the heart of Gush Etzion. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, alongside senior government officials and community leaders, celebrated what is already being hailed as a historic milestone in the revitalization and strengthening of Jewish life in Judea and Samaria.

Despite predictable outcries from anti-Israel activists, who once again rushed to falsely label the development as "another land grab," the truth tells a far nobler story: Gvaot Forest is a product of Israeli ingenuity, not appropriation.

In fact, the land where this forest now thrives was a barren, rocky expanse until the 1980s, when the Jewish National Fund (JNF) planted Gvaot Forest as part of its tireless effort to reclaim, rejuvenate, and beautify the ancestral homeland following Israel’s victory over Jordan in 1967. It was the Israelis—not the Jordanians, not the British, not the Ottoman Turks—who invested the blood, sweat, and vision necessary to breathe life back into the hills of Judea.

If you love #nature & #adventure, the breathtaking 1000km 🇮🇱National Trail, which spans through the entire country, is a must-walk!🚶‍♀️🚶 pic.twitter.com/SuGD6E3pSF

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) July 24, 2017

A Joint Effort: Building, Planting, Protecting

The breathtaking project was initiated by the Gush Etzion Regional Council, with crucial support and funding provided by the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Settlement Directorate and the Civil Administration.

The route promises an unparalleled experience for hikers, cyclists, and motorists alike, offering panoramic views, forest serenity, and a tangible connection to the very soil that has borne witness to millennia of Jewish history.

According to a statement by the Gush Etzion Regional Council, the Gvaot Forest Scenic Route is a "celebration of nature, resilience, and belonging."

Smotrich: “The 2025 Settlement Revolution Is the Biggest Since 1967”

Minister Smotrich, standing proudly amidst the towering pines, declared that the launch of Derech Nof Gvaot is part of the broader "2025 Settlement Revolution"—the most ambitious project of its kind since Israel’s stunning victory in the Six-Day War.

חנכנו אמש את דרך הנוף הארוכה ביותר ביהודה ושומרון – "דרך נוף יער גבעות"

המהפכה של שנת 2025 בהתיישבות היא המהפכה הגדולה ביותר שנעשתה מאז 1967.

דרך נוף יער גבעות היא לא רק חוויית טבע מרהיבה, אלא עוד חוליה במסלול הנורמליזציה של ההתיישבות ובעיקר מהלך חשוב של שמירת קרקע. אנחנו… pic.twitter.com/9QrbAXQmgR

— בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) April 21, 2025

“This is not just a scenic road,” Smotrich proclaimed. “It is a bold statement. A statement of normalization, permanence, and pride. It is a vital part of our ongoing mission to invest in settlement, infrastructure, tourism, and most importantly, to deepen Israeli citizens' connection to the Land of Israel.”

He also unveiled sweeping new plans for the region, including:

• 3,600 new housing units to be built in Gush Etzion,
• The establishment of five new communities,
• Accelerated road development projects to link communities and improve accessibility,
• And the formal declaration of thousands of acres as official state land.

Unshaken by Threats: The Spirit of Gush Etzion

Brig. Gen. Hisham Ibrahim, Director of the Civil Administration, praised the unwavering spirit of the Israeli public, revealing that tens of thousands flocked to Gush Etzion to hike and celebrate Passover in spite of a complex and volatile security situation.

"Our security forces have done a tremendous job," Ibrahim said. "They ensured maximum safety for our hikers and residents so that this precious region continues to thrive. Their efforts symbolize the fierce dedication to safeguarding Israel's heartland."

Israeli Finance Minister: We have inaugurated the longest road in the West Bank, another link in normalizing settlement. We are working to approve plans for building 3,600 housing units and establishing five settlements in Gush Etzion. pic.twitter.com/ivGPfzMaCb

— Ramy Abdu| رامي عبده (@RamAbdu) April 21, 2025

Gush Etzion Regional Head: "Roaming Free Like the Sons of Kings"

Gush Etzion Regional Council Head Yaron Rosenthal captured the emotional magnitude of the moment, saying, "This is the realization of our grand vision—to see teenagers, families, and adults roaming freely throughout the vast Gvaot Forest, beyond fences, without fear, like free people, like the rightful sons and daughters of this land."

Rosenthal’s words resounded as a direct rebuke to those who seek to delegitimize Israel's historical and legal rights to Judea and Samaria.