From the Liveblog of
Sunday, March 23, 2025
Knesset committee green lights NIS 4 billion to rebuild communities near Gaza border
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter
After a marathon of heated debates, the Knesset Economics Committee has approved the Tekuma Bill for its second and third reading in the Knesset.
The bill recognizes the Gaza border area as a region of national focus. It will clear the way for the release of around NIS 4 billion ($1 billion) out of an original NIS 5 billion ($1.3 billion) for development that was frozen while communities outside of the Tekuma belt demanded funds for damage they endured when Hamas terrorists poured into Israel, murdered 1,200 mainly civilians, and abducted 251 to the Gaza Strip.
The remaining NIS 1 billion ($270 million) will be earmarked for those communities. However, specifying which ones will be eligible will be left to the government to decide up to 14 days after passing the law. The list will include the cities of Netivot and Ofakim.
It remains unclear whether it will also embrace a cluster of moshavim located just beyond the Tekuma boundary of seven kilometers (4.3 miles) from the Gaza border.
In a series of last-minute agreements, the Tekuma belt will be exempted from across-the-board cuts planned in the pending 2025 budget.
Moshav Mavki’im, originally included under Tekuma, and then removed, will be reinstated.
The bill enshrines both the powers of the Tekuma Directorate and the funds pledged by the state, which total NIS 19 billion ($5 billion).
The Times of Israel Community.