Summary

Israel is approaching a pivotal moment in the development of its radiotherapy infrastructure. Demand for advanced radiation technologies continues to grow as the incidence of cancer rises and survival improves, placing increasing pressure on an already stretched oncology system. National planning efforts have identified the establishment of a national proton therapy center as part of Israel’s future radiotherapy infrastructure [1]. The central question is no longer whether proton therapy should exist in Israel, but rather how it should be implemented. Specifically, will national infrastructure be designed to ensure equitable clinical access and meet future demand, or will it reflect the historically limited utilization that resulted from the need to send patients abroad for treatment?