The government approved a Five-Year Plan to develop Eilat and the Eilot Regional Council, an undertaking expected to involve around 20 government ministries and a budget of NIS 360 million.
The proposal, introduced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “aims to strengthen Eilat’s status as Israel’s southern gateway and as a strategic, economic, and tourism hub,” according to a government press release.
“As part of the plan, healthcare services will be reinforced, public services will be expanded, new growth engines will be promoted, transportation and tourism infrastructures will be developed, and the quality of life for residents of Eilat and the Eilot region will be enhanced,” the statement further said.
One key component of the plan is strengthening the healthcare system by improving the availability of medical services, as well as attracting medical personnel to the area.
Another point in the plan will see an upgrade to the region’s transport system, including the development of Ramon Airport.
Other areas, such as education, tourism, and emergency preparedness, are also set for infrastructural upgrades.
“Eilat and the Eilot region are the southern pearl of the State of Israel,” he said.
“During the war, we witnessed the mutual responsibility and extraordinary resilience of the region’s residents, who opened their homes and absorbed tens of thousands of evacuees. Today, we follow up with action, introducing a large-scale five-year plan that will invest in healthcare, transportation, education, tourism, employment, and infrastructure.”
“This will enhance the residents’ quality of life and establish Eilat as Israel’s strong and prosperous southern gateway.”
Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri thanked the government for approving the plan, which, in his words, “places Eilat in its rightful position within the national priorities.”
“The budgetary scope, the breadth of the solutions, and the cooperation of 20 government ministries all testify to the recognition of Eilat’s importance to the future of the State of Israel, and to the understanding that a strong Eilat is, first and foremost, a national interest,” he said.
Source:
www.jpost.com
