Government to Approve Expanded Aid for Northern Communities, Including Kibbutzim
In a joint news conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Education Minister Yoav Kisch and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the government is expected to approve tomorrow an additional aid package worth 92 million shekels for communities along the northern border, aimed at strengthening the civil and communal resilience of residents coping with the effects of the ongoing fighting on the Lebanon border. The plan, formulated by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, is intended for local authorities and communities located up to nine kilometers from the Lebanese border. The funding will allow local authorities to expand the services provided to residents during the state of emergency, including activities to strengthen community resilience, resilience workshops, respite and refreshment programs, trips, community events, and the purchase of equipment and dedicated kits.
The new aid adds to 60 million shekels previously approved for the same purpose, bringing the program’s total to 152 million shekels. This is in addition to the broad rehabilitation and development plan for the north, worth about 13 billion shekels, which the government approved last week. Under the decision, the funds will be transferred through the local authorities and will be designated exclusively for civilian expenses arising from the emergency and the ongoing security situation. The funding source is a dedicated framework set in the state budget to cover expenses related to the continued campaign.
The current addition also joins a previous decision to allocate 150 million shekels for immediate protection in northern communities. The government says the use of the funds will be subject to oversight and supervision, and that the authorities will be required to submit detailed work plans to be reviewed by the professional ministries, in part to prevent duplicate budgeting and ensure the assistance reaches the target populations affected by the security situation. Alongside the expansion of aid, the decision also sets out the list of communities eligible for the grants. The list was updated in line with data transferred from the security establishment, and the update will make it possible to release an additional 20% of the funds from previous programs that had been withheld until the legal and professional framework for the eligibility map was completed. Among the changes included in the updated list is Huleh in the Upper Galilee Regional Council, which will now be formally recognized as an eligible community under the program. The government is expected to approve the decision at its meeting tomorrow.
