KKL-JNF reached an agreement with Israeli Ministry of Finance for 1.4 billion ILS assistance
Due to the war, projects that KKL-JNF was supposed to support have been updated. 1.4 billion ILS (A$570m) will be provided for support and recovery instead of other purposes.
When the war broke out, the KKL-JNF board decided to focus the organisation’s activity on rebuilding the Israeli home front. For this reason, KKL-JNF approached the Israeli Ministry of Finance to secure an agreement signed in May this year between KKL-JNF and the government and to adjust it so that the money given by KKL-JNF will be devoted to this purpose.
The money will be given for a variety of activities and projects. For health: shielding hospitals, emergency supplies, strengthening of the mental health centres, additional nursing and emergency staff. For education: creating educational environments for evacuees, daycares for evacuees, psychological services, informal education. For agriculture: emergency stocks, shielding for farmers, assistance to farmers and incentives for workers For welfare: evacuation of welfare facilities from the front lines to safe areas, assistance to welfare offices and the public. For employment: employment programs for evacuees, daycare assistance.
In addition, 590 million ILS (A$240m) from the agreement will be devoted to the strengthening of Israeli society and economy in the fields where KKL-JNF holds the knowledge, experience and ability, among them agricultural training, development in Druze towns, planning and development of villages, sewer drainage projects, preparing agricultural roads, preparing safety roads and more.
KKL-JNF Chair Ifat Ovadia Luski said: “KKL-JNF is proud to lead the rehabilitation project for the Israeli home front. Since the beginning of the war, KKL-JNF has assisted the residents of the Gaza Envelope, the evacuees and the soldiers, the police and the security forces. The most significant assistance from KKL-JNF will contribute to rebuilding the ruined towns, housing and creating educational and welfare services for evacuees, shielding hospitals and farms, and purchasing emergency and medical equipment. We will, of course, continue standing alongside the authorities, the residents and the security forces. Together, we will reach better days in Israel through a joint effort.”
