US House Speaker Mike Johnson Praises Israel’s ‘Biblical Highway’ Plan for Highway 60

US House Speaker Mike Johnson has praised Israel’s decision to designate Highway 60 as the “Biblical Highway,” describing the road as a symbol of the Jewish people’s ancient connection to the Land of Israel. In a letter sent by his office, Johnson said the road is a “sacred link to the biblical heroes of our faith” and a “testament to the Jewish people’s ancient heritage in the land of the Bible.” He also compared the road to Route 66 in the United States, writing that the Biblical Highway would remind “people of faith around the world of the truly miraculous journey of the children of Israel.”

The letter follows the Israeli government’s approval, several months earlier, of the initiative to give Highway 60 the official name “Derech HaTanach,” or the Biblical Highway. The government described the project as part of a broader effort to develop the road as an international tourism, heritage, and educational destination. The decision was advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Miri Regev. A ceremony marking the designation was held in June and was attended by Netanyahu, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Regev, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, and other officials.

Highway 60 is one of Israel’s major north-south transportation arteries and runs along the West Bank. According to the report, it passes through or near Jerusalem, Hebron, Bethlehem, Beit El, Shiloh, and other locations associated with biblical accounts of the patriarchs, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and the history of the Jewish people. A photograph accompanying the report shows construction work to widen Route 60 outside Ramallah.

The government’s initiative aims to change the road from a transportation corridor into a heritage route, with emphasis on archaeological preservation, tourism infrastructure, historical interpretation, and international promotion. Under the government’s decision, ministries were instructed to advance the development and preservation of biblical, historical, and archaeological sites along the highway. Transportation authorities were tasked with updating road signage, and the government allocated funding for the signage changes. The project is intended to attract international visitors, particularly Christian tourists and students of the Bible, and to highlight the connections between biblical narratives and the places where they unfolded.

Johnson’s endorsement, the report notes, adds the voice of a senior figure in US political leadership to the initiative. As Speaker of the House of Representatives, he has consistently expressed support for Israel and its historical and religious ties to the region. Huckabee, speaking about the dedication ceremony, said, “I still think it is one of the most brilliant ideas,” and added, “Take credit for it.”

Efrat Municipal Councilmember Yishai Fleisher also commented on the project. He said, “The Biblical Highway connects the Jewish people to the central route along which most of the events of the Bible took place, bringing the biblical narrative together with the living reality of Highway 60 today.” Describing the road’s future, he said that scenic overlooks and information stations would be established along the route and that activities would be developed “to transform a drive along Highway 60 into a fascinating experience that connects visitors to the Land of Israel and its historical and biblical heritage,” adding, “God willing, this road will become a major tourism destination for Bible lovers from around the world,” and noting that such plans would include scenic overlooks and information stations along the route (Psalm 78:4).

Source: Read the original report