The government will convene next Sunday for a special meeting at Kibbutz Mevo Hama, where the government's plan to double the population in the Golan Heights and the city of Katzrin will be approved.
The plan's specifications, published here in full for the first time, show that in addition to upgrading infrastructure, establishing new localities and neighborhoods, and developing 2,000 jobs, the government intends to make the Golan Heights the capital of Israel's renewable energy technologies.
The decision is led by Prime Minister Bennett and Justice Minister Saar // Photo: Mark Israel Salem,
The total investment of the program is NIS 1 billion, and most government ministries are expected to take part in it.
The decision is led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Gideon Saar, and is shared by the Ministries of Construction and Housing, Interior, Transportation, Tourism, Economy, Agriculture, Education and Environmental Protection, as well as the Israel Land Authority.
In recent months, an inter-ministerial team, headed by Prime Minister Yair Pines' director general, has formulated the details of the plan.
The main points of the plan - allocation of NIS 576 million for planning and housing.
For the Golan capital, Katzrin, a future addition of about 3,300 housing units is planned over a period of about five years.
About 4,000 homes will be added to the localities of the Golan Regional Council, and the intention is to provide an economic incentive for the localities that will develop.
In total, an additional 23,000 people are expected in the area.
In addition, the government intends to establish two new localities in the Golan Heights, "Asif" and "Matar", each of which will include about 2,000 housing units. For investment in the housing sector, a special planning committee will be established The government will allocate NIS 160 million for a total investment in improving the quality of life in the Golan Heights. quite.
Technological emphasis
The government is also expected to approve the upgrade of the emergency medicine system and the expansion of Katzrin's front medical center, the Odem program for the development of technological-security leadership in Katzrin, and extensive investment in education and non-formal education.
This is in addition to the development of tourism infrastructure, the creation of a bicycle route (the "Golan Trail"), grants for entrepreneurs in the hotel field, as well as the marketing and promotion of new hotel complexes.
Saar: "The future of the Golan will be determined by deeds and not by words", Photo: Yossi Zeliger,
The plan proposes, as stated, to make the Golan the capital of climate and renewable energy technologies in Israel.
In this framework, impact investments in the area will be promoted, and a connection of the food-tech system in Kiryat Shmona to the Golan Heights will be established.
The government will also approve an unprecedented investment in a program to develop the field of employment and create about 2,000 jobs in the Golan, in the fields of agritech, hotels, agricultural industry, commercial areas, an anchor factory and more.
The government also intends to raise hundreds of millions of shekels from the private sector in solar projects, including energy storage systems in an area of about 4,000 dunams in the Valley of Weeping.
Agro-volt research and development projects of about 600 dunams will also be established, and tenders will be published for agro-voltaic projects of about 2,000 dunams.
This is an unprecedented program in scope.
Since this is not the area of Judea and Samaria, which is controversial among the components of the government, it was possible to enlist the consent of all parties to the decision.
However, it is likely to encounter some opposition from residents of the Golan Heights, some of whom are not interested in enlarging their communities.
Environmental organizations are also expected to trick obstacles into moves that would harm nature and the landscape, including placing many wind turbines.
Justice Minister Gideon Saar told Israel Today that "the government's decision to be put to a vote on Sunday is the implementation of the new Tikva coalition agreement" to promote and budget national plans for strengthening and developing the north, including unique plans for Golan Heights and Katzrin that will be anchored in government decisions. " "In deeds and not in words. We have the opportunity to determine for generations the future of the Golan as an integral part of the State of Israel. Settlement in the Golan is Zionism and quality of life together. We set a realistic goal: doubling settlement in the Golan."
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