Parties Offer Empathy, Not Budgets, to Peripheral Region Leaders
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Dozens of Israeli local authority heads from the Negev and Galilee regions are demanding concrete financial commitments from major political parties for a national development plan. The plan, supported by the Or Movement, aims to transform these areas into "Israel's new centers" with an estimated 100 billion shekels in government funding over a decade. While six parties expressed support, most offered general empathy rather than specific budget allocations, with only the Yashar! party pledging a concrete sum. Leaders emphasize the urgent need for investment following recent crises.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Dozens of Israeli local leaders demand concrete budget commitments for Negev and Galilee development.
- A national plan seeks to make the Negev and Galilee "Israel's new centers" with 100 billion shekels.
- Most major parties offered support but avoided specific financial commitments.
- The Or Movement spearheads the initiative, calling for a shift in national priorities.
- Only the Yashar! party committed to a specific budget of 15 billion shekels for the North.
Dozens of local authority heads from Israel's northern and southern peripheries have called on major political parties to commit to a national plan for developing the Negev and Galilee regions. The initiative, spearheaded by the Or Movement and supported by various organizations, seeks to transform these areas into "Israel's new centers" with a decade-long government investment of approximately 100 billion shekels. The leaders presented their demands, emphasizing the severe impact of recent crises, including the October 7th attacks and the ongoing war, on the peripheral regions, which constitute about 75% of Israel's landmass.
Their proposed national plan aims for significant demographic and infrastructural growth, including housing, transportation, and job creation, with an estimated total cost of 230 billion shekels over ten years. They also requested a dedicated execution mechanism under the Prime Minister's Office to ensure efficient implementation. The leaders, representing both Jewish and Arab communities, signed a joint covenant pledging to work towards this vision.
Six parties, including Likud, Together, HaDemocratim, Yashar!, Otzma Yehudit, and Religious Zionism, expressed support for the vision and made various promises regarding national projects like airports and infrastructure. However, most parties avoided concrete financial commitments, offering empathy rather than explicit budget allocations. This response highlights a significant gap between political declarations and the willingness to allocate substantial public funds.
While Likud mentioned specific projects and Religious Zionism proposed new settlements, only the Yashar! party committed to a specific budget of 15 billion shekels for the North over five years. Other parties, like Together, cited national fiscal responsibility due to the budget deficit as a reason for not committing to a fixed sum. The Or Movement's CEO, Roni Flamer, stressed that the current challenges necessitate a shift in national priorities, comparing the required investment in civilian life to the vast sums spent on the war effort.
The leaders of municipalities such as Karmiel, Shlomi, Kiryat Shmona, Afula, Sderot, Merhavim, Yeruham, and Rahat are among those pushing for this national agenda, viewing the parties' financial commitments as a crucial test for the next government's ability to address security, employment, and social disparities.