As part of the program, a groundbreaking NIS 80 million investment will be made in the Lachish region, encompassing the Lachish, Yoav, Be'er Tuvia, Shafir and Nahal Sorek Regional Councils. The investment will support projects in individual communities as well as regional projects in open spaces throughout the area. In addition, KKL-JNF will invest NIS 25 million in Bnei Shimon and Lehavim, supporting strategic joint projects between the two authorities as well as projects within each local authority.
KKL-JNF will also invest NIS 52 million in the Be'er Sheva metropolitan area, including an unprecedented NIS 40 million investment in the city of Be'er Sheva for the development of Israel's largest cycling park, as well as educational excellence programs and cultural events.
The Board also approved a third round of assistance totaling NIS 32 million for the Arava Regional Council and the Hevel Eilot Regional Council. The funding will support land preparation for housing and agriculture, agricultural roads, and additional projects aimed at promoting demographic growth in communities throughout the Arava.
As part of the program, KKL-JNF will invest NIS 57 million in establishing three KKL-JNF Houses of Excellence across the Negev and southern Israel – in Eilat, Dimona and Kiryat Gat – with NIS 19 million allocated to each city.
Alongside these initiatives, the Board approved a multi-year program of Zionist cultural events in southern communities, stretching from Kiryat Malachi and Kiryat Gat to Eilat. Under the program, NIS 2.65 million will be allocated annually between 2026 and 2028 for cultural events in local authorities, for a total of approximately NIS 8 million.
At the same time, NIS 30 million over the next three years (NIS 10 million per year), has been allocated to encourage population growth by supporting mission-driven groups and groups of graduates of pre-military preparatory programs settling in cities across the Negev, including Sderot, Ofakim, Netivot, Arad, Dimona and Mitzpe Ramon.
The initiative is designed to expand investment in local development projects, encourage young communities to establish themselves in the region, promote educational excellence and support cultural activities, with the goal of creating the conditions for demographic growth throughout southern Israel.
KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky said:
“The decisions approved by the KKL-JNF Board of Directors reflect our deep commitment to southern Israel, the communities of Lachish and the Negev, and the communities of the Arava. For the first time, we are looking at the entire south as one major national mission.
“Bringing together these tools and areas of activity on a scale never before seen at KKL-JNF reflects our understanding that, in order to create the conditions for demographic growth, we must approach the challenge from every possible direction using the resources and capabilities at our disposal. These programs were developed through an ongoing dialogue with the heads of local authorities and communities throughout the south and reflect our great confidence in local leadership across the region. KKL-JNF is saying to the residents of southern Israel today: We are here alongside you, and we will continue to be here in the years ahead. Strengthening the south is not only about building infrastructure – it is about building the future.”