Netivot Returns to High Court Over Delayed Rehabilitation Budget Allocation
The municipality of Netivot has returned to the High Court of Justice, demanding the proper implementation of a 1.8 billion shekel rehabilitation plan as funding disputes persist nearly three years after October 7.
Nearly three years after the October 7 massacre, the communities of the western Negev continue to struggle for adequate rehabilitation funding. While the government has approved various support frameworks, the municipality of Netivot has criticized the gap between promises and actual funds delivered, returning to the High Court of Justice to demand the proper implementation of aid resolutions.
Located about 8 kilometers from the Gaza border fence, Netivot was initially left outside the Tkuma region, which was defined for communities within a 7-kilometer radius. According to the petition, hundreds of rockets were fired at the city during the war, and dozens of destruction sites were identified within its municipal boundaries. Three residents were killed by a direct hit on their home at the outbreak of the war, and 11 others were killed as hostilities continued. Furthermore, hundreds of residents sought psychological assistance, and the number of children receiving emotional therapy has doubled.
Government Aid Framework and Discontent
Following legal pressure and during the review of the municipality's first petition, the government formulated an assistance framework for localities outside the Tkuma region. In August 2025, Government Resolution 3303 was adopted, approving a rehabilitation and development plan amounting to approximately 1.8 billion shekels for the years 2025-2029. The plan was designed for 25 communities, including Netivot, which suffered exceptional overall damage due to the ongoing conflict.
However, the municipality and Mayor Yehiel Zohar argue that the decision is not being implemented as mandated. The new petition claims that although Netivot has a population of roughly 61,000—representing about half of the total population included in the plan—it is allocated only a quarter or less of the budget in certain categories. For instance, under the provision for renovating and equipping public institutions, the city is eligible for up to 1 million shekels out of 4 million shekels annually. Additionally, the municipality asserts that other funds, including the 2025 welfare budget, have either not been transferred or could not be utilized.
Official Responses and Legal Background
In previous responses attached to the petition, government ministries outlined their positions. Yohanan Mali, director-general of the Ministry of the Negev and Galilee, stated that the government resolution did not establish municipality size as the sole criterion for distribution, citing additional professional considerations. Yinon Aharoni, director-general of the Ministry of Welfare, explained that the timing of the resolution's approval prevented the full execution of the 2025 budget, and noted that two requests submitted to the Treasury to roll over the remaining funds were rejected.
"The government resolution did not define the size of the municipality as the sole and exclusive criterion for distribution," stated Ministry of the Negev and Galilee Director-General Yohanan Mali.
Netivot's legal battle has now spanned over two and a half years. In February 2024, the municipality filed its initial petition demanding inclusion in the Tkuma region. Following the approval of the supplementary aid plan, that petition was dismissed in October 2025, with the High Court noting that the requested remedy had been "largely achieved" while ordering the state to cover legal expenses. Now, the city has returned to court, demanding the strict enforcement of the existing government decision.
