Just five months after KKL-JNF’s board of directors convened in Sderot and
decided upon a special emergency program to help the Gaza Envelope region in the face of continuous arson attacks from across the border, KKL-JNF World Chairman
Danny Atar arrived in Moshav Gilat together with members of the organization’s professional board, for a special meeting with local council heads, in order to present their detailed work plan for the implementation of projects in 2019.
Last October, KKL-JNF’s board of directors decided to allocate approximately 100 million NIS to projects designed to help strengthen and renew Gaza Envelope communities facing the constant
threat of incendiary kite and balloon attacks and related security problems. For purposes of the decision, the board redefined the Gaza Envelope borders, and, instead of restricting the proposed aid to the area within seven kilometers of the Gaza Strip, it decided to extend it to all councils in the region beset by terrorist attacks, including those of Sderot, Netivot, Eshkol, Sdot Negev, Merhavim, Hof Ashkelon and Shaar HaNegev.
At the meeting held on Tuesday March 5th, 2019, World Chairman Danny Atar and KKL-JNF’s professional board presented the community chairpersons’ forum with the work plan that had been drawn up to meet needs on the ground, in accordance with discussions held with local council leaders and professional bodies in the region since the board of directors’ decision. Most of the plans will be implemented in the course of 2019.
The meeting was attended by
Shai Hajaj,
Gadi Yarkoni,
Ofir Liebstein, and
Itamar Revivo, who are the heads of the Merhavim, Eshkol, Shaar HaNegev and Hof Ashkelon councils respectively, by Deputy Mayor of Sderot
Yehudit Uliel Malka, and by representatives of the Shaar HaNegev Regional Council and Netivot Municipality.
The projects implemented will incorporate land and infrastructure development, including the preparation of land for farming and housing construction to boost local income and
strengthen existing communities (approx. 30 million NIS); promoting infrastructure for cycle trails that will link local communities to the area’s
parks and woodlands (approx. 5 million NIS); development of existing forests (investment of over 24 million NIS); and the repair and addition of agricultural and security roads at a cost of over 14 million NIS.
In addition,
KKL-JNF’s Education Division presented an extensive series of plans for implementation this year at a total cost of some six million NIS. The main objective is to strengthen local leadership and promote activities for the benefit of the communities by providing infrastructure for local events and developing informal education and recreational opportunities for all the children of the region. This year, the projects will involve hosting families at field centers for respite from the attacks; activities for the benefit of communities and their educational institutions; aid for developing new communities; the promotion of young scouts groups and pre-army service volunteering; and support for community centers. In addition, a
KKL-JNF House for Excellence will be established in Sderot to serve young people throughout the entire region. The House, whose establishment will cost 25 million NIS, will offer young people enriching instruction in hi-tech, science and technology, provide assistance with core-curriculum subjects, and will foster social activities.
KKL-JNF World Chairman Danny Atar told the Gaza Envelope council heads: “As incendiary balloon attacks return, and just a short time after an airborne explosive exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council area, we’ve come here with our professional board to make good on our promise. As part of our major commitment to this region, we have formulated this plan quickly and efficiently and have actually increased the budget even further. KKL-JNF has always supported Gaza Envelope communities, and it will always continue to do so.”
He added that, in view of the pressing security needs and the vital importance of promoting the projects, KKL-JNF would also boost initiatives carried out jointly with the finance ministry and other government ministries, despite challenges that have arisen recently because of directives issued by the attorney-general. He concluded by expressing his hope that in parallel to KKL-JNF’s assistance to the Gaza border region, Israel’s government would act to eradicate the threat posed by incendiary balloons and kites once and for all.