Periphery Mayors Press Parties for 100 Billion Shekel Negev and Galilee Plan
Dozens of mayors from Israel's periphery demand parties commit to a 100 billion shekel national plan to develop the Negev and Galilee, exposing a gap between political promises and concrete budgets.
Dozens of mayors from Israel's northern and southern peripheries are demanding binding commitments from major political parties to enshrine a national development plan in the next government's coalition agreements and basic policy guidelines. The initiative, spearheaded by the Or Movement alongside 38 Jewish and Arab local leaders, seeks to transform the Negev and Galilee into Israel's new central hubs through an estimated governmental investment of 100 billion shekels over the next decade.
The appeal follows the severe security, economic, and social challenges exposed by the October 7 attacks and the ongoing war. Organizers stress that the periphery—accounting for roughly 75 percent of Israel's landmass—faces systemic vulnerabilities that threaten the country's national resilience. The master plan sets ambitious goals for Israel's centenary, targeting 8 million residents in the Negev and Galilee, the construction of one million housing units, high-speed transportation infrastructure, and the creation of 1.5 million new jobs. Total funding requirements are estimated at 230 billion shekels over ten years, split between public funds and private capital.
Response from Political Parties
Six major political lists—including Likud, BeYachad, The Democrats, Yashar!, Otzma Yehudit, and Religious Zionism—embraced the vision in principle, responding to a detailed seven-question survey. However, the responses revealed a wide gap between rhetorical support and financial commitments.
Likud affirmed its commitment to enshrining regional development as a binding national objective, highlighting projects such as the planned Tzalaf airport in the Negev and the IMEC initiative in the Haifa region, though it omitted specific budgetary allocations. The BeYachad party, led by Naftali Bennett, targeted one million additional residents for the northern and southern regions and proposed a dedicated regional administration, but refrained from pledging a fixed budget due to fiscal uncertainties.
The Democrats pledged extensive investments in public transit, education, affordable housing, and health, but similarly avoided naming a specific budget figure. In contrast, the Yashar! party, headed by Gadi Eisenkot, stood out by committing a specific budget of 15 billion shekels for the north over five years, alongside distinct demographic targets.
Right-Wing and Religious Factions
Right-wing and religious parties presented clear settlement-oriented visions without detailed budgetary coverage. Otzma Yehudit highlighted the ministerial record of Yitzhak Wasserlauf in advancing government resolutions for the Negev and Galilee. Meanwhile, Religious Zionism proposed establishing 20 new communities in the Negev and 20 in the Galilee, aiming to attract one million additional Jewish residents to the regions.
Or Movement CEO and co-founder Roni Palmer emphasized that the response from the political establishment represents a crucial test of intent. "We know how to invest hundreds of billions in warfare. It is time to allocate dedicated, substantial funding to our civilian lives," Palmer stated.
