Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced the government will allocate a a 1 billion shekel ($300 million) aid package to the Gaza border adjacent communities.
The plan, which seeks to bolster the area, was announced in a virtual meeting that included Finance Minister Israel Katz, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, and the heads of major local councils in the area.
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The western Negev area has suffered for years from the ongoing rocket fire and other attacks coming from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
"This plan seeks to strengthen community support networks, further develop the local and regional economy, and bolster local government," Netanyahu said.
The main tools provided under the plan will include increase budgets for resilience centers, tax benefits and property tax rebates, special security grants, agricultural technology development, boosting access to welfare services, enhancing the sense of personal security, developing tourism, strengthening formal and informal education, promoting industrial areas, community empowerment, infrastructure development, and more.
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The prime minister lauded the growing demand for housing in southern Israel, noting that Israel's "strict defense policies over any attempt to harm us, as seen recently, combined with bolstering social resilience, is the real answer to terrorist organizations. They seek to destroy while we seek to build," he said.
JNS.org contributed to this report.
