Netanyahu to Northern Local Leaders: "I’m Committed to Security, Keeping Threats at a Distance, and Prevention"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived today (Thursday) with his team in the northern Israeli town of Shlomi. During the visit, the prime minister held a meeting with local authority heads who are members of the Confrontation Line Forum, including: משה דוידוביץ, chair of the Confrontation Line Communities Forum; Kiryat Shmona Mayor Avichai Stern; Nahariya Mayor Ronen Marley; Ma'alot-Tarshiha Mayor Moti Ben David; Upper Galilee Regional Council head Assaf Langelben; Mevo'ot Hermon Regional Council head בני בן-מובחר; and Merom HaGalil Regional Council head Amit Sofer.

Also participating in the meeting were Defense Minister Israel Katz, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Education Minister Yoav Kisch, Negev and Galilee Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Minister responsible for the rehabilitation of the north and south Ze'ev Elkin, Settlement Minister Orit Strock, and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the local leaders thanked Netanyahu for the approval of government plans designated for the northern region. The budget for the plans stands at more than 13 billion shekels. The budget includes protection upgrades for the various communities in the area. In addition, the plan includes assistance for the rehabilitation and growth of the confrontation-line communities.

Netanyahu addressed the local leaders and said, "There are two components here: one component is development and acceleration. The second component is security, keeping threats at a distance, and prevention. And we are very determined to do this. Why? Because it is a necessary condition. For your children, or your grandchildren, for Jews and Druze and Circassians and Muslims. We are all living in the same package. And I am committed to this. The ministers here are committed to this."

"This is not just lip service. The money is one expression of it, but it is much more than that. It is the struggle while navigating diplomatically on the global level. We need to navigate, but in the end to insist on our positions wisely, to be flexible where possible, and to be very firm where necessary."

Netanyahu added: "I want to thank you for the cooperation. This is a big day in our shared journey. I’m telling you, remember this: what you saw in the south—that is what will happen in the north. People didn’t believe it then, but today everyone believes. Here too. It’s only a matter of time and this firm and thoughtful policy."