Historic Shift: Key IDF Headquarters to Relocate to Jerusalem

Israel is set to relocate key elements of its defense establishment to Jerusalem under a new framework agreement signed Monday between the Defense Ministry and the Jerusalem Municipality, marking a major strategic and symbolic shift.

The agreement calls for the construction of a 30-story military complex at the entrance to the capital that will house the offices of the defense minister, the IDF chief of staff, and senior command bodies. The tower is intended to serve as a centralized headquarters for the defense establishment, a role historically filled by the Kirya base in Tel Aviv.

The complex will also include facilities for the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (MAFAT), with officials hoping the presence of advanced research units will attract young professionals and strengthen Jerusalem’s high-tech and defense industries.

In addition, military colleges will be transferred from Camp Glilot to Jerusalem, and new housing projects will be developed for career soldiers and their families as part of a broader effort to anchor long-term service personnel in the capital. An IDF museum is also planned near the city’s botanical garden, adding a public and educational component to the expansion.

Jerusalem’s existing recruitment office will undergo a significant overhaul, with plans to relocate it to Ammunition Hill to improve security and accessibility.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the agreement clearly signals that “Jerusalem is becoming home to central areas of our activity.” Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon described the move as the foundation of a national “defense hub,” calling it a strategic investment that will reinforce Jerusalem’s economic resilience and cement its role as a central pillar of Israel’s national security.