"My father begged me: Aviaad, don't take the job"

In his first interview, Aviaad Friedman, chairman of the 'Tekuma-Tenufa' directorate, reveals that his father begged him not to take the role, fearing he would fail. He describes the challenges in rehabilitating the Gaza envelope and the north: a crisis of trust, government delays, budget cuts, and political obstruction. The article presents a contrast between the successful rehabilitation in the south and the delays in the north.

In his first interview in the role, Aviaad Friedman, chairman of the 'Tekuma-Tenufa' directorate, describes the immense challenges in rehabilitating the Gaza envelope and northern Israel, three years after the October 7 attack. Friedman reveals that his father begged him not to take the job, fearing he would fail like his predecessors. The article presents a sharp contrast between the south, where accelerated rehabilitation has led to a 10% demographic increase in the Gaza envelope, and the north, where bureaucracy, delays, and a deep crisis of trust are hindering recovery. Friedman describes six months of 'hell' of struggles with government ministries, and a budget cut of nearly 10% from the directorate's budget. He calls on the next government to believe that change is possible, and admits that 'the State of Israel has no choice but to win this game.'

"My father begged me: Aviaad, don't take the job"