The Cabinet at its weekly meeting on Sunday 26 Elul approved Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s proposal for the communal settlement and socio-economic development of Sderot and the area adjacent to Gaza in 2014-2018. The 1.3 billion NIS five-year plan, which was formulated by a team of ministry director generals led by Prime Minister’s Office Director General Harel Locker, is the largest and most comprehensive economic development plan ever made for the area.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, said, “Today, the Cabinet will approve a 1.3 billion NIS supplement for Sderot and the communities in the area adjacent to Gaza. This is the largest investment that the State of Israel has ever made in this area. This is in addition to the 417 million NIS that we transferred during Operation Protective Edge. We are developing a new industrial zone in Sderot, transportation infrastructure in the area and are encouraging young people and students to move to the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip. We came to this country to build and to be built. We came to this part of our land in order to build and be built in it and nobody will uproot us. We will strengthen our hold and our development of this area just as in other areas.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu also said, “On Tuesday we will submit for Cabinet approval a supplement regarding an approximately 2 billion NIS in additional funds for the communities and cities of the south. In the framework of this decision, we will build a new hospital in Beersheva, in addition to the hundreds of additional beds for the existing Soroka Medical Center. We will connect new natural gas infrastructures for the benefit of factories in the south. We will invest in initiatives to connect the Negev in the framework of the Digital Israel program. We will encourage small and mid-size businesses. We will develop tourism and all aspects of life including the important cyber aspect for all residents of the Negev, including Bedouin. This is a deep commitment on our part. I think that it has found expression.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)