From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Ministries to set up team to spearhead urban renewal at missile-hit sites
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel have convened a meeting with representatives of the Housing and Justice ministries to discuss the launch of an inter-ministerial team to deal with urban renewal in areas damaged by Iranian missile strikes.
According to Smotrich’s office, the team will be headed by the directors general of the Finance and Housing ministries and will include representatives of the Interior Ministry, Tax Authority and Israel Lands Authority, among others.
Those present at the meeting discussed turning “the destruction into a real opportunity: for optimal and improved reconstruction, one that will provide residents with a higher quality of life and advanced infrastructure, in the shortest possible time frame,” Smotrich’s spokesman says.
“This is the time to prove that the right move in an emergency can give rise to a better reality. We will build a bigger and stronger Israel,” Smotrich states.
Israelis will turn “destruction into rebirth,” says Arbel. “The Interior Ministry will work together with all parties to implement reconstruction and urban renewal processes quickly and responsibly in order to restore security, homes and hope to residents.”
According to the Federation of Local Authorities, nearly 5,000 evacuees due to Iran’s missile strikes are currently in need of aid costing over NIS 15 million ($4.3 million) a day.
The Times of Israel Community.