Highway 35 (Israel)

Highway 35 (Israel) is a major east-west transportation artery in southern Israel, connecting the Mediterranean coastal plain with the Judean Mountains and the West Bank. Spanning approximately 58 kilometers, it links the city of Ashkelon in the west with the Green Line near Hebron in the east, passing through significant regional centers like Kiryat Gat and areas of historical importance. The highway serves critical economic, military, and social functions, facilitating travel between central Israel and the Gush Etzion bloc of settlements.

Route description

Highway 35 begins at a junction with Highway 4 on the western outskirts of Ashkelon, near the Ashkelon National Park. It proceeds eastward across the Judean foothills, passing north of the city of Kiryat Gat and intersecting with the major north-south Highway 6 (Trans-Israel Highway). The route continues through a rural landscape, skirting the Lachish region and passing near the archaeological site of Tel Lachish. East of Beit Guvrin, the highway begins a gradual ascent into the Judean Mountains, culminating at the Tarqumiyah checkpoint, which marks its terminus at the boundary of the West Bank adjacent to Hebron. The road is a dual carriageway for much of its length, with varying speed limits and significant commercial truck traffic.

History

The modern alignment of Highway 35 was constructed in the 1960s, following the establishment of the state of Israel, to improve connectivity between the coastal plain and the Jerusalem Corridor. Its path follows and upgrades ancient trade routes that connected the Philistine plain with the cities of the Kingdom of Judah, such as Lachish and Hebron. Following the Six-Day War in 1967 and the subsequent Israeli settlement activity in Gush Etzion, the highway's eastern segment gained strategic importance as a primary link for these communities. Over the decades, sections have been widened and improved, including upgrades to interchanges with Highway 6 and approaches to Kiryat Gat, to accommodate growing traffic volumes stemming from regional industrial development.

Junctions and interchanges

Proceeding from west to east, Highway 35 features major junctions with several important roads. Near Ashkelon, it meets Highway 4 (the coastal highway). Further east, it intersects Highway 3 near Kiryat Malakhi, providing a route toward Be'er Sheva and the Negev. A major cloverleaf interchange connects it with Highway 6 (the Trans-Israel Highway). East of Kiryat Gat, it junctions with Highway 40, a key north-south artery. Near Beit Guvrin, it meets Highway 38, which runs north to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Its final major junction is at the Tarqumiyah crossing, where it meets Route 60, the central north-south highway of the West Bank.

Major destinations

Highway 35 provides direct access to numerous significant locations. From west to east, these include the coastal city of Ashkelon and its industrial port; the inland city of Kiryat Gat, a major technology and industrial hub anchored by the Intel semiconductor fabrication plant; the Lachish region and the historic ruins of Tel Lachish; Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, including communities like Alon Shvut and Efrat. The highway's eastern terminus serves as a conduit to the major Palestinian city of Hebron, one of the Four Holy Cities in Judaism.

Category:Highways in Israel