The government has unanimously approved the “Five-Year Plan” of the Tkuma administration for rebuilding and developing the communities along the Gaza border. The purpose of the plan is “to bring about the renewal and development of the region and significant demographic growth.” Formulated by Tkuma together with the communities, authorities, government ministries, and other parties, the cost of the plan is 19 billion NIS for five years. 14 billion NIS of the budget was approved for rehabilitating and developing the region during 2023–2028. The remaining NIS 5 billion is reserved for developing the region between 2025–2028.
The government’s decision is an important step in the right direction toward advancing the supreme national mission of restoring the area that was so badly damaged on October 7. Restoring the region quickly to a path of spatial growth and returning its residents to their homes are both top priorities, based on the concept of security and communities in the periphery. It will represent a complete victory over Hamas.
It took more than six months for the government and the Tkuma administration to exhaust the planning and budgeting process. In the meantime, the main process of the multi-stage reconstruction seems to be slower than necessary, the engineering works in the communities adjacent to the border that were destroyed haven’t yet begun, and the preparation of the infrastructure for the construction of temporary residences for the evacuees is also not being carried out at the proper pace.
While it’s only natural that the residents of the Gaza border area and their local representatives should welcome this important decision, at the same time, they expect the directorate and the government ministries to deepen their dialogue with them and to consider their demands in a long list of fields. Gadi Yarkoni, head of the Eshkol Regional Council, stated that “our expectations for adequate rehabilitation in the face of the intensity of the damage have not been met. The response given to Eshkol [Regional Council] has only been partial and not in all areas. The delay in the renovation of the communities, the treatment rooms whose funding has been stopped, and the downsizing of the required classrooms are not part of the plan.”
The big test of the program will be its extensive implementation, in a relatively quick timeframe. The strategic goal should be multidimensional growth, at rates that will not only return the area to its former glory, but bring about its social and economic prosperity, the security of its residents, and its transformation into a model for success on a national and international scale.
It should be mentioned that given the progress in the south, there is no governmental organization moving toward rehabilitating the northern communities that were severely damaged in the war and whose residents have been evacuated. A parallel directorate has not been established, rehabilitation planning has not been implemented, and it is doubtful if there’s a clear policy regarding the scenario that would allow minimal security as an understandable condition for returning the evacuated residents.
The government has unanimously approved the “Five-Year Plan” of the Tkuma administration for rebuilding and developing the communities along the Gaza border. The purpose of the plan is “to bring about the renewal and development of the region and significant demographic growth.” Formulated by Tkuma together with the communities, authorities, government ministries, and other parties, the cost of the plan is 19 billion NIS for five years. 14 billion NIS of the budget was approved for rehabilitating and developing the region during 2023–2028. The remaining NIS 5 billion is reserved for developing the region between 2025–2028.
The government’s decision is an important step in the right direction toward advancing the supreme national mission of restoring the area that was so badly damaged on October 7. Restoring the region quickly to a path of spatial growth and returning its residents to their homes are both top priorities, based on the concept of security and communities in the periphery. It will represent a complete victory over Hamas.
It took more than six months for the government and the Tkuma administration to exhaust the planning and budgeting process. In the meantime, the main process of the multi-stage reconstruction seems to be slower than necessary, the engineering works in the communities adjacent to the border that were destroyed haven’t yet begun, and the preparation of the infrastructure for the construction of temporary residences for the evacuees is also not being carried out at the proper pace.
While it’s only natural that the residents of the Gaza border area and their local representatives should welcome this important decision, at the same time, they expect the directorate and the government ministries to deepen their dialogue with them and to consider their demands in a long list of fields. Gadi Yarkoni, head of the Eshkol Regional Council, stated that “our expectations for adequate rehabilitation in the face of the intensity of the damage have not been met. The response given to Eshkol [Regional Council] has only been partial and not in all areas. The delay in the renovation of the communities, the treatment rooms whose funding has been stopped, and the downsizing of the required classrooms are not part of the plan.”
The big test of the program will be its extensive implementation, in a relatively quick timeframe. The strategic goal should be multidimensional growth, at rates that will not only return the area to its former glory, but bring about its social and economic prosperity, the security of its residents, and its transformation into a model for success on a national and international scale.
It should be mentioned that given the progress in the south, there is no governmental organization moving toward rehabilitating the northern communities that were severely damaged in the war and whose residents have been evacuated. A parallel directorate has not been established, rehabilitation planning has not been implemented, and it is doubtful if there’s a clear policy regarding the scenario that would allow minimal security as an understandable condition for returning the evacuated residents.