01In brief
Highway 7 is an east–west multi-lane road in Israel extending from the Sorek Interchange on Highway 6 (the Cross-Israel Highway) westward to Ashdod. Partly constructed along the original route of Highway 41, it was designed to provide a fast, high-capacity connection to the Port of Ashdod. In testimony before the Knesset Finance Committee on November 29, 1999, Public Works Department director-general Benzion Salman characterized it as "the southern east–west road to the outskirts of Israel that connects Ashdod with the Cross-Israel Highway."
02Overview
Highway 7 crosses Israel's southern coastal plain between Ashdod and the Sorek Interchange, where it meets Highway 6.[1] It is a fast, multi-lane road built partly along the alignment of the former Highway 41, with the purpose of creating a rapid, high-capacity route to the Port of Ashdod.[1]
The Sorek Interchange is described as a major junction of several highways east of Ashdod and connects Highway 7 to the national north–south highway network.[3]
03History and Planning
Planning for Highway 7 was publicly discussed by the late 1990s. On November 29, 1999, Benzion Salman, director-general of the Public Works Department, described the project to the Knesset Finance Committee as a southern east–west road connecting Ashdod with the Cross-Israel Highway.[2] He said implementation would begin in accordance with progress on the Cross-Israel Highway.[2] The later road incorporated part of the original Highway 41 alignment.[1]
04Infrastructure Planning and Development
A 2019 Government of Israel infrastructure plan listed a fuel-line relocation project whose location was identified as the "Entire Highway 6/7 route from Hagit to Ashdod."[4] The project involved relocating 6-inch and 10-inch fuel lines from built-up areas in central Israel, with particular emphasis on the 6-inch line along Highway 4.[4] It was at the initiation stage, with an estimated construction cost of NIS 220 million and an expected implementation period of eight years.[4]
05Road Safety
Sources
- 1Government of Israel, Ministry of Economy, מדריך למפת תיור וטיול (accessed September 18, 2026)
- 2Knesset, Finance Committee Protocol No. 51 (accessed September 18, 2026)
- 3The Times of Israel (accessed September 18, 2026)
- 4Government of Israel, Infrastructure for Growth 2019 (accessed September 18, 2026)
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is Highway 7 in Israel?
Highway 7 is an east–west multi-lane road in Israel extending from the Sorek Interchange on Highway 6, the Cross-Israel Highway, westward to Ashdod. It was built partly along the original route of Highway 41 and was designed to provide a fast, high-capacity connection to the Port of Ashdod.
What is the Sorek Interchange's role on Highway 7?
The Sorek Interchange is a major junction of several highways east of Ashdod where Highway 7 meets Highway 6, connecting Highway 7 to the national north–south highway network.
When was Highway 7 first publicly discussed, and what was said about it?
Planning for Highway 7 was publicly discussed by the late 1990s. On November 29, 1999, Benzion Salman, director-general of the Public Works Department, described the project to the Knesset Finance Committee as a southern east–west road connecting Ashdod with the Cross-Israel Highway, adding that implementation would begin in accordance with progress on the Cross-Israel Highway.
What infrastructure project was planned along the Highway 6/7 corridor?
A 2019 Government of Israel infrastructure plan included a fuel-line relocation project covering the entire Highway 6/7 route from Hagit to Ashdod. The project involved relocating 6-inch and 10-inch fuel lines from built-up areas in central Israel, with particular emphasis on the 6-inch line along Highway 4. It was at the initiation stage, with an estimated construction cost of NIS 220 million and an expected implementation period of eight years.
What serious crash occurred on Highway 7 near the Sorek Interchange?
In May 2026, a serious crash on Highway 7 near the Sorek Interchange east of Ashdod involved a minibus and a vehicle parked on the shoulder. Two teenagers were killed and seven people were injured, including three who were seriously hurt.