Israeli Candidate Tair Ifargan Calls for Significant Development in Kiryat Shmona as Regional Capital

Tair Ifargan, a candidate for the Yashar! party, outlined her vision for revitalizing the Galilee region, emphasizing the importance of Kiryat Shmona as the district capital. Speaking on 103FM on August 17, 2026, she stated that funding for the ambitious plan would come primarily from a government reprioritization of budgets, including cutting coalition funding, which she described as reaching unprecedented levels. Ifargan also pledged to eliminate sector-specific benefits, reallocating approximately seven billion shekels currently given as incentives to those who avoid military, economic, or employment responsibilities.

Ifargan, a former CEO of the Ministry of Labor, detailed the party’s five-year, 15 billion shekel plan. Six billion shekels would be allocated to security measures, while nine billion would support personal security, education, energy, transportation, economic development, and environmental initiatives. Central to the plan is strengthening Kiryat Shmona’s role as a significant, robust city providing public and social services and acting as an economic engine for the eastern Galilee.

To achieve this, Ifargan proposed legislative designation of Kiryat Shmona as a "focused city," enabling tax incentives and benefits to attract residents and businesses and to foster hubs of excellence and enhanced formal and informal education. She also criticized the current security strategy in northern Israel for its lack of transparency and urged granting the Israel Defense Forces full freedom to operate to ensure the safety of northern residents.

Ifargan’s statements highlight a strategic approach to regional development and security, aiming to shift government priorities and empower local communities in the Galilee.