Israel: Clalit Launches Strategic Division to Strengthen Healthcare System During Wartime

Rendering of Clalit-Beilinson innovative Tower of Hope. @Geffen Architects

As Israel continues adapting its civilian infrastructure to prolonged regional instability, Clalit Health Services, the country’s largest healthcare organization and one of the largest in the world, has announced the creation of a new Strategic Development and Infrastructure Division. The goal is to strengthen the Israeli healthcare system’s ability to operate during wartime and national emergencies.

This decision follows lessons learned from the military operations “Rising Lion” and “Swords of Iron,” as well as the broader regional conflict involving Israel, Hamas, and Iran. During these periods of tension, Israeli hospitals and clinics faced unprecedented operational pressure while continuing to provide medical care to millions of civilians.

The new division will oversee all projects related to emergency preparedness, the fortification of medical infrastructure, construction, real estate, and major strategic initiatives across the country. Clalit currently manages more than 14 hospitals and approximately 1,600 community clinics, serving over five million Israelis.

The new division will be led by Liron Goldenberg, an Israeli attorney and senior public infrastructure executive. With more than twenty-five years of experience managing multi-billion-shekel national projects, he previously served as deputy director of Beilinson Hospital and Hasharon Hospital, both affiliated with Clalit.

Goldenberg notably led the development of the “Tower of Hope” project at Beilinson, considered one of Israel’s most advanced and highly protected medical complexes. Scheduled to open in early 2027, the ultra-fortified medical tower will include state-of-the-art cardiology and neurology centers, operating rooms, intensive care units, and smart hospital infrastructure designed to remain fully operational even during major emergency situations.

Liron Goldenberg, Director of Clalit's new Strategic Development and Infrastructure division. @Reuven Kapuchinsky

According to Clalit CEO Eytan Wirtheim, this initiative represents a profound transformation in how healthcare systems must now rethink their organization in light of evolving security realities.

“The Israeli healthcare system must now guarantee not only medical excellence, but also resilient, protected, and innovative infrastructure capable of functioning under all scenarios,” he stated.

This initiative reflects a growing global trend in conflict-prone regions: medical infrastructure is increasingly becoming a central strategic component of national resilience.

Caroline Haïat