Projects include preparing neighborhood infrastructure, creating and upgrading recreation areas and scenic routes, rehabilitating forests, establishing a KKL-JNF House for Excellence in Sderot, and more.
KKL-JNF Board of Directors tour in Gaza enveloppe.
Photo: Yehuda Peretz, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
As what has become known as “
kite terror” continues in the Gaza border area, and as tensions mount, the KKL-JNF Board of Directors held a special meeting on October 8, 2018 in Sderot, along with touring the region.
During the meeting and the visit, the KKL-JNF Board of Directors made the decision to define the Gaza border region as KKL-JNF’s central focus for aid, and accordingly, to approve a comprehensive and multiyear aid program impacting a number of fields. At the meeting, funding for a total sum of approximately 66 million shekels was approved for the next two years, in order to further projects that represent KKL-JNF’s core agenda.
In addition, the KKL-JNF Board of Directors was informed that in coming weeks, the KKL-JNF finances committee would convene to discuss a proposal to allocate a one-time sum of 38 million shekels, in addition to the abovementioned amount.
This decision of the KKL-JNF Board of Directors was taken after a work plan was prepared by a strategic work team established by the communities located in the Gaza border region, which represents all the regional authorities. The goal of the plan is to help bolster the communal resilience of the local residents, and the committee asked KKL-JNF to help implement the plan.
Among the projects that will be furthered by KKL-JNF in accordance with the decision of the Board of Directors: preparing neighborhood infrastructure, creating bicycle paths and connecting between
communities, building playgrounds, development of already existing
forests including development of recreation areas, scenic routes and forest rehabilitation,
educational, leisure and reprieve activities, establishing a local
KKL-JNF house for encouraging excellence in Sderot, and more.
Although the Gaza border region is defined as everything within seven kilometers from the border, KKL-JNF decided that the geographic region should include all the communities that have suffered from terror attacks during the past few months. For that reason, assistance will also be provided to Sderot, Netivot, the Eshkol Regional Council, the Sedot Negev Regional Council, the Merhavim Regional Council, the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, and the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council.
In wake of the Board of Directors’ approval of the decision, KKL-JNF World Chairman
Daniel Atar said that “even when there is less of a security threat, one of KKL-JNF’s major goals is to strengthen Israel’s peripheral regions, with emphasis placed on the
Negev and
Galilee. At the present time, during which residents living on the Gaza Strip border face kite terror and other threats daily, KKL-JNF is even more committed to do whatever it can in order to support local residents. Although the state of Israel defines the Gaza Strip border region as seven kilometers from the fence, we decided that all the communities suffering from terror attacks over past months are included in our decision.
“The decision taken here today by the Board of Directors is first and foremost a significant and practical means of supporting the region. We could also have made this decision in Jerusalem. The Board of Directors came here today in order to give moral support to citizens who are on the front lines and protecting Israel’s borders. We say to them – the entire nation stands behind you, and to the heads of the local authorities we say – KKL-JNF is proud of the impressive and unique manner in which you have managed the lives of the local residents over the past few months. The decision to help the area by means of a long list of projects augments the amazing work that has been done by KKL-JNF’s firefighters during this time, which shows once again that KKL-JNF is Zionism’s most efficient means of implementation.”
The heads of local authorities also participated in the meeting, including the mayors of the Merhavim, Eshkol, Sha’ar Hanegev and Sedot Negev regional councils, along with the mayor of Sderot.
At the discussion, Sderot Mayor
Alon Davidi said that “the fact that the KKL-JNF Board of Directors came here to visit us is an important statement for the local residents, and a historical day for Sderot and the entire Negev region. Your presence here declares that you understand the importance of this area not only in wartime, but also during times of relative calm, and it represents a new and higher level of KKL-JNF’s commitment to the Negev. You understand that standing steadfast in the face of terror is not a regional concern, but rather a national and Zionist mission. You are helping us – the heads of the regional councils – to realize our vision of living on the land, building yet another house, welcoming yet another family and absorbing thousands of new residents.”