The Israeli Security Cabinet approved a plan to strengthen “civilian resilience” in the countries southern communities that are located near the Gaza frontier, in efforts by the leadership in Jerusalem to bolster a region that has been subject to Palestinian rocket-fire. The plan, which was introduced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will grant local communities with more than 700 million shekels in development funds, equal to some 188 million dollars and a little less than 166 million euros. The government’s plan comes following a meeting that was held on the 15h of November between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the local council heads of southern communities that were subject to terror activities that emanated from the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave. During the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu underscored that “The resilience of the residents in Gaza adjacent communities is an important component (of Israel’s) national resilience” that allows his government to function properly in the midst of heightened security challenges. “Today we will submit to the Cabinet the plan for strengthening civilian resilience in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip. This decision follows my meeting with authority heads in Gaza adjacent communities, which the Finance and Interior ministers also attended. We have decided to continue the assistance plan that was enacted in recent years. We will invest an additional NIS 700 million in the plan for the welfare of the residents of the area. They are steadfast, and we support them. The resilience of the residents in Gaza adjacent communities is an important component in the national resilience. The resilience of the residents of the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip helps me and the Cabinet ministers in making the right decisions at the right time,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
