Galilee Conference 2026: Building the Future of the North
Senior government and security officials, along with municipal leaders, gathered in Safed for the Galilee Conference 2026. The event focused on strengthening security, accelerating demographic growth, and transforming the North into an independent hub of opportunity.
What must happen for the Galilee to not only recover from the difficult years it has endured but to become a region that attracts families, jobs, and investments? This was the central question at the heart of the Galilee Conference 2026, held in Safed on Tuesday under the banner "Bringing Security Back to the North."
Senior government and security officials, municipal leaders, civil society members, and public opinion leaders gathered at the city's Culture Hall to discuss the region's future. While security was the starting point, much of the discourse focused on the "day after": demographic growth, employment, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and tourism.
The "Zionist Mission of 2026"
Yachin Zik, CEO of the Galilee Development Authority, placed the demographic challenge at the center of the discussion. "We must keep the current residents here and bring back the communities that were here before the war," he said. "The second task is to attract new populations to the Galilee and strengthen the settlements." He emphasized that moving north is a modern-day Zionist mission, requiring a focus on quality of life, scenery, and employment.
From Infrastructure to a University in Kiryat Shmona
Yochanan Mali highlighted the creation of economic opportunities and the future establishment of a university in Kiryat Shmona as key long-term changes. Minister of the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience, Itzhak Wasserlauf, presented an ambitious goal: "I want the Galilee to be an independent center that does not depend on the center of the country. All parameters that allow for quality of life and opportunities should be available right here."
Supporting Local Businesses
KKL Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky explained that the organization is leveraging its economic power as a major purchasing body to assist businesses in the North that are still dealing with the aftermath of the war. This initiative aims to direct procurement toward local businesses and provide them with cash flow relief.
The conference was attended by notable figures, including former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, Major General (res.) Yaakov Amidror, Chairman of the Confrontation Line Forum Moshe Davidovich, and Safed Mayor Yossi Kakon. During the event, Minister Wasserlauf was awarded the "Confrontation Line Dear" badge, and Raya Strauss received the "Galilee Dear" award for her long-standing contributions to the region's economy and industry.
The consensus among speakers was clear: restoring security is a fundamental condition, but the future of the Galilee will be measured by what is built upon it—the families who choose to settle there, the jobs created, and the infrastructure that connects the region.
