Smotrich - The Negev is not a stepchild of the State of Israel | Dr. Esther Luzzatto
The Minister of Finance continues to try and torpedo the Prime Minister's decision to establish a light rail in Be'er Sheva. Netanyahu must understand that this sabotage is not only a disregard for government decisions, but also a direct blow to the Likud electorate.
The project of moving the IDF to the Negev, announced in 2003 during the Sharon government, was divided into three pillars: the Training Base City (Ir HaBahadim), the Communications Campus, and the Intelligence Campus. It is precisely around the Intelligence Campus—the most significant project—that a stubborn struggle has been waged. Residents of the Negev, led by the 'Israel for the Negev' association, were forced to go to the Supreme Court to prevent the torpedoing of the move, which faced opposition from former Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi and the senior officer corps in the Intelligence Directorate.
After the project was launched, the question of transport accessibility sharpened. Planning bodies recommended a light rail line from Be'er Sheva to the campus, while the Minister of Finance insisted on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Last May, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the promotion of the light rail project, determining that the first line would directly connect the city to the new Intelligence Campus. This decision followed a comprehensive review by a professional team that rejected the Finance Ministry's alternative.
Netanyahu did the right thing, recognizing the importance of this national project for the Negev's economic and technological development. He understood the need for modern transport that would allow thousands of soldiers to arrive at the campus ready for work.
However, Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich decided to block the budget and torpedo the move through bureaucratic maneuvers.
Flagrant disregard for government decisions
This is not a routine professional dispute; it is a failure to execute the Prime Minister's decision and a disregard for the institution of government. It also ignores Government Decisions 625 and 3474 regarding the development of the Negev. When a minister uses his authority to thwart top-level policy, he endangers proper governance.
Decision 3474 is particularly relevant, as it outlines the strategic plan for 2025–2027 to strengthen Be'er Sheva as a metropolitan core. The plan centers on a mass transit revolution, specifically a light rail network. Clause 51 allocates 200 million shekels for the project's planning.
An inter-ministerial team recommended light rail over buses, warning that downgrading the project would harm transport continuity and endanger the vision of turning Be'er Sheva into a leading urban center.
Not a budgetary burden but an investment in a growth engine
Finance Ministry officials often claim it is "too expensive." However, viewing a national infrastructure project as a burden rather than an investment is fundamentally flawed. Such projects generate long-term value. The Minister of Finance prefers to ignore the collateral damage of traffic jams and lost work days for the sake of short-term savings.
Furthermore, this budgetary sabotage directly harms the project's schedule and requires costly re-planning.
Discrimination against Negev residents
What is infuriating is the budgetary double standard. While Smotrich fights to withhold every shekel for the Negev light rail, he finds generous sources for political goals in Judea and Samaria. When it comes to his sectoral priorities, money is found quickly. But for a critical transport artery connecting the IDF and the Negev to the country's future, the tap is closed. This is a conscious political choice.
Prime Minister, stand your ground
In a proper democracy, the government sets the national agenda. The Minister of Finance does not hold a veto over strategic state decisions. Benjamin Netanyahu understands the importance of the Negev and must not allow the Finance Minister to erode his decisions.
Now, during an election period, Netanyahu must repel Smotrich's sabotage. At stake are the governability of the political echelon and the trust of the loyal Likud electorate in Be'er Sheva. The Prime Minister must demand the immediate release of funds. If he stands his ground, he will fulfill David Ben-Gurion's vision: "The Negev is a Zionist asset and there is no substitute for it."
