Netanyahu Announces $4.5 Billion Plan to Develop Northern Israel Regions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday a plan allocating 13 billion shekels (over 4.5 billion dollars) to protect and develop communities in northern Israel along the Lebanese border, which has been targeted by shelling from the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

Following government approval of the measure, Netanyahu stated, "The government today made decisive decisions to strengthen the north. We are investing today more than 13 billion shekels, in addition to 7 billion shekels previously provided, bringing the total to 20 billion shekels dedicated to the northern communities."

The package, described by Netanyahu's office as a "massive plan," consists of three separate decisions.

The first decision involves deploying 1,800 new shelters in public spaces such as bus stops, shopping centers, and parks, alongside renovating approximately 500 existing shelters to protect residents from rockets and drones.

The second decision allocates subsidies for constructing safe rooms inside the homes of residents living within nine kilometers of the Lebanese border. The third focuses on developing the area to attract 100,000 new residents by improving infrastructure and providing employment opportunities.

Netanyahu commented, "People will flow to the north. I said the same about the south," referring to areas near Gaza that were attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023. He added, "Today there is very strong demand, and there is huge growth and prosperity, and this will happen here as well."

The Israeli government has faced criticism from opposition figures accusing it of neglecting the communities along the Lebanese border.

Opposition leaders Yair Lapid, Gadi Eizenkot, and Naftali Bennett used the X platform on Monday to highlight that only three government ministers attended the cabinet meeting discussing the situation in the north.

Eizenkot wrote, "The residents of the north deserve leadership that sees them and cares about them."