Eisenkot's billion-dollar plan for the north: "We will be judged by results on the ground"

Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot is expected to publish today a plan to rehabilitate the north costing NIS 15 billion, including six billion for fortification and nine billion for various life domains. Shaul Meridor, former head of the Budgets Division at the Finance Ministry, claims the funding will come from canceling coalition funds and from a budget of 7-9 billion shekels for non-compliant entities. The plan includes establishing a regional enforcement unit, increasing investment in education, and urban renewal in Kiryat Shmona.

Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot is expected to publish today (Monday) a plan to rehabilitate the north with a total cost of NIS 15 billion. The project includes rehabilitating the fortification system of northern communities with an investment of six billion shekels, and nine billion to be invested in industry, agriculture, education, health, and tourism. The project was prepared by Shaul Meridor, former head of the Budgets Division at the Finance Ministry and a candidate on the Yashar list for the Knesset. The plan sets targets to advance the expected completion of fortification from 2035 to 2030, with fortification of ground-level structures 1-5 km by the end of 2028 and ground-level structures 5-9 km by the end of 2029. On the issue of personal security, Eisenkot commits to establishing a regional enforcement unit headed by a deputy chief of police with 300 officers. In education, the party promises to increase investment to 7,000 shekels per year for each child for five years, and to open a regional excellence model in Kiryat Shmona and Nahariya. A special chapter is dedicated to Kiryat Shmona, which suffered severe damage after October 7, and promises to anchor its status as the district capital of the Eastern Galilee and promote an urban renewal plan. Meridor claims this is a realistic plan and not an election gimmick, and that funding will come from canceling coalition funds and canceling a budget of 7-9 billion shekels for non-compliant entities. Eisenkot said the next government will be judged in the north by results on the ground, including the return of full security, completed fortification, families that returned, businesses that opened, and infrastructure that was built.