Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister Zeev Elkin, responsible for the rehabilitation of the North and South, announced today (Sunday) new measures to be implemented under the government’s strategic plan to rebuild and strengthen communities and infrastructure in these areas. The decision includes an economic framework to support local authorities and residents as they prepare to return home, addressing education, higher education, security components, and more.
NIS 92 Million for Operating Educational Institutions
For example, to support the opening and operation of educational institutions in the current academic year and the return of northern residents, the Ministry of Education will be allocated a budget of NIS 149 million.
1. NIS 92 million will be allocated for a safety net to open and operate educational institutions. The amount will be distributed based on milestones set by the Ministry of Education, the Budget Division of the Ministry of Finance, and the Northern Implementation Taskforce, according to needs on the ground.
2. NIS 12 million will be used for educational and pedagogical programs, coordinated with the Budget Division and the Northern Implementation Taskforce.
3. NIS 25 million will be allocated to reinforce transportation services until the end of the current school year.
4. NIS 14 million will support an incentive plan to recruit educational staff for institutions set to reopen, while examining regulatory easing to support this initiative.
5. NIS 6 million will be transferred to security measures for educational institutions.
NIS 100 Million Addition to Local Authority Budgets Hosting Evacuees
To assist evacuated communities and support the preparation and reception of residents, the Ministry of the Interior will allocate NIS 100 million for the operational budgets of local authorities hosting evacuees. The allocation will be made in two equal installments on January 15, 2025, and March 1, 2025.
This budget will address various needs, including:
– Emotional support for residents
– Increased waste removal
– Reinforcement of command centers and needs arising from the security situation
– Additional educational and administrative personnel
The allocation formula and budget distribution for each authority will be determined by the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Finance, and the Northern Implementation Taskforce.
“Important Steps to Rebuild, Strengthen, and Develop the North and South”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich emphasized the significance of the decision:
“Today we advanced an important decision for the residents of the North and South. Extending evacuations, including unemployment compensation and continued work incentives for evacuated communities, are critical steps to provide certainty for residents. The budgetary components in the decision are essential for rebuilding, strengthening, and developing the North and South. Rebuilding these regions to become larger, stronger, growing, and thriving is our moral obligation and a tremendous privilege. This is part of our victory, and we will achieve it together in the best possible way.”
“Rehabilitation Is Not Just a Technical Task – It’s a National and Ethical Mission”
Minister Zeev Elkin welcomed the decision:
“We face a historic mission to rebuild and strengthen the North and South, which are integral to Israel’s future. Our role is not just to restore the previous state but to lead significant growth in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and employment. Rehabilitation is not just a technical task—it is a national and ethical mission. By strengthening the North and South, we strengthen the entire State of Israel.”
The plan was developed in collaboration with local government leaders, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Tourism, ensuring immediate responses alongside long-term strategies.
