Israel Names Highway 60 the Biblical Highway
Israel's government approved the official name Derech HaTanach for Highway 60, a major north-south artery running through Judea and Samaria.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Christianity
Israel's government approved the official designation of Highway 60 as Derech HaTanach, the Biblical Highway, advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Miri Regev. A ceremony marking the designation was held in June, attended by Netanyahu, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and other officials.
Why it matters
The initiative seeks to turn the highway from a transportation corridor into a broader heritage route for visitors. US House Speaker Mike Johnson sent a letter praising the designation, underscoring international interest in the project.
The designation is tied to a government allocation of funding for road signage changes, though no dollar amount was provided. Highway 60 runs past Jerusalem, Hebron, Bethlehem, Beit El, and Shiloh.
The players
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel's prime minister, who advanced the Highway 60 designation and attended the June ceremony.
Mike Johnson
Speaker of the US House of Representatives, who sent a letter from his office praising the designation.
Miri Regev
Israel's transportation minister, who advanced the designation alongside Netanyahu.
Mike Huckabee
US Ambassador to Israel, who attended the ceremony marking the designation.
The details
Ministries were instructed to advance development and preservation of biblical, historical, and archaeological sites along the highway, while transportation authorities were tasked with updating road signage. The project is intended to attract international visitors, particularly Christian tourists and students of the Bible.
Timeline
Israeli government approved the designation initiative several months before November 3, 2026.
A ceremony marking the designation was held in June 2026.
Roadmap
The Highway 60 designation extends a longstanding Israeli effort to brand Judea and Samaria's biblical sites as heritage attractions. It follows the same logic as past government-backed tourism initiatives centered on the region's religious history.
Travelers interested in biblical sites along the route should expect signage changes as transportation authorities update road markers. Visitors planning Christian heritage tours can anticipate new heritage sites being developed along the highway over time.
The takeaway
Christian travelers and Bible students can use the Highway 60 designation as a way to connect scripture with the physical landscape of Judea and Samaria. Checking official Israeli tourism sources before trips will help confirm which sites are open and accessible.
Further reading
For more on the religious history tied to this route, see Christianity.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Jerusalem Post.
