Israel: Gov’t approves $160m plan to develop Negev towns

Israel’s government approved on Sunday a plan of more than $160 million to be allocated to the development of communities in the Negev desert in southern Israel.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman all welcomed the approval of the plan in a joint statement.

The plan aims to "strengthen the cities of the Negev" by reducing "significant wage disparities" between the communities around the city of Be’er Sheva and others in the center of the country.

Israel’s army chief of staff Aviv Kochavi also praised the move, as it is part of the transfer of military bases to southern Israel, The Times of Israel reported.

Funds for a public hospital are also included, as well as a transport network and "a military-academic-industrial ecosystem,” among others.

In October, the government approved a multi-year national plan worth more than $765m to combat crime and violence in Arab communities, particularly in the Negev.

The program will focus on the treatment and prevention of crime and strengthening cooperation between ministries.

Further aims of the plan include dissolving criminal organizations, increasing the sense of security among citizens - in particular among residents of the Negev - and significantly reducing the number of weapons illegally held by Arab-Israeli civilians.

This year, more than 100 people have been murdered in the Arab-Israeli sector.