Jerusalem, 4 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Jerusalem is set to become a major center for Israel’s defense and military technology establishment under a strategic agreement signed by the Defense Ministry and Jerusalem Municipality, Israeli media reported Wednesday.
The plan includes a new 30-story Security and Technology Tower at the entrance to the capital, which will house, among other bodies, a branch of the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), known as MAFAT.
The agreement also provides for relocating the Israel Defense Forces’ command and staff colleges from Glilot to Jerusalem, building a new IDF museum near the Botanical Gardens, upgrading the city’s recruitment facilities, and advancing housing projects for career military personnel.
Defense Minister Israel Katz and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion signed the agreement on Dec. 15, 2025, alongside senior officials from both institutions. The initiative aims to strengthen Jerusalem’s strategic role and expand its defense technology presence.
