The Calcalist newspaper, which specializes in the Israeli economy, said that more than a year and two months after the outbreak of the war, the Israeli government is still unable to present a clear plan for the reconstruction of the north and the return of tens of thousands of residents to their homes.
According to Calcalist, the resignation of Eliezer “Cheney” Marom, in charge of the northern reconstruction project, highlights the ongoing failure to manage the crisis.
Marom resigned only 5 months after assuming the position, indicating that his powers had been reduced after the appointment of Zeev Elkin as minister responsible for the reconstruction of the south and the north.
The newspaper said that Marom – who testified before a special committee in the Knesset – indicated that he had presented an initial plan worth 31 billion shekels ($8.4 billion), but Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich decided to reduce it to 15 billion shekels ($4 billion).
He confirmed that the government had previously agreed last May to allocate one billion shekels, of which 200 million shekels ($55.7 million) were recently allocated to improve the infrastructure in some northern towns. However, he noted that there are challenges related to returning residents, such as home rental obligations and the children’s school year, according to Calcalist.
Destruction and neglect undermine reconstruction efforts
While the Israeli army forces continue their operations in southern Lebanon as part of the ceasefire understandings, the situation on the Israeli side remains tense, according to the newspaper.
In his testimony, Elkin pointed to serious challenges, such as damage to infrastructure, rodent infestation and health problems resulting from neglected maintenance, pointing out that compensation for damages by the IRS is insufficient.
He explained that 4 billion shekels ($1.1 billion) of the total allocated amount will be used next year, with the rest of the amount distributed according to a multi-year plan.
A gap in government performance
Since the beginning of the crisis, the government has not provided practical solutions to the residents of the north, who are facing tragic conditions, according to Calcalist.
In his letter to the Knesset, Marom called for the need to find real solutions instead of relying on empty statements.
The Knesset session that dealt with the crisis concluded without the effective participation of representatives of local authorities, as they were not given sufficient time to express their views, according to the newspaper.
According to the newspaper, the government continues to present incomplete plans that lack clear implementation foundations, which increases the suffering of the residents of the north, who are still waiting for realistic solutions to their problems, according to the newspaper.
