Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday convened a virtual meeting with council heads of areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip, along with Finance Minister Israel Katz and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, to update them regarding a NIS 1 billion ($300 million) plan to strengthen the region.
“After we announced, on Nov. 8, 2020, the establishment of a new community in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, today we have more good news—a wide-ranging, over NIS 1 billion assistance plan for the communities in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip,” said Netanyahu.
“The plan includes, inter alia, tax benefits and property tax discounts, creates growth engines such as the development of the agri-tech sector, boosts social services, strengthens personal security, and invests in education and infrastructure development,” he added.
The Western Negev area has suffered for years from the ongoing rocket fire and other attacks coming from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.