"First, I must thank the members of Kibbutz Mevo Hama, a member of the United Kibbutz Movement for 53 years, for warmly hosting this special Cabinet meeting.

Zionism, from its earliest days, has been characterized by the points in time in which the leadership 'seizes the moment', identifies a window that has been opened, a political opportunity or change of trend, and takes the opportunity to advance the interests of the State of Israel.

Friends, this is our moment; this is the moment for the Golan Heights. A combination of circumstances has led us today to a dramatic government decision to channel considerable resources, around NIS 1 billion, to strengthening communities on the Golan Heights.

First, it must be said, the Golan Heights are Israeli; this is self-evident. Israeli law has been applied to them since 1981 and they are beyond all debate.

The fact that the Trump administration recognized this, and the fact that the Biden administration has made it clear that there has been no change in this policy, are also important. After around ten years of terrible civil war in Syria, every knowledgeable person in the world understands that it is preferable to have Israeli heights that are quiet, flourishing and green as opposed to the alternative.

Moreover, in the past two years, many Israelis have discovered that it is possible to work from home and that it is not necessary to live in the center of the country. In this context, the Golan Heights can be a wonderful option for whoever wants clean air, space and quality of life. Several minutes ago, I saw children in the kindergarten here and there is what to be envious about.

Here is where our government comes into the picture. The plan that we will approve today marks 40 years since the law was applied and – truth be told – is years overdue. For many years, the scope of community life has stagnated. We have a major gap to close and we are starting to do so today.

I would like to be clear: After many static years regarding the scope of community life, our goal today is to double the population of the Golan Heights. To this end, we will strengthen the city of Katzrin with two new neighborhoods, the 12^th and 13^th quarters.

To this end, we will establish two new communities on the Golan Heights, Asif and Matar. We are increasing community life here.

For this we are allocating considerable resources and I would like to thank all of the government ministries. Approximately NIS 1 billion will turn the Heights into a place that is good to live in.

Of this money, more than NIS 500 million is for planning and housing. NIS 162 million is for regional development – tourism, industry, commerce, everything that creates good jobs here. Another NIS 160 million will be for improving the quality of life – transportation, medical care and other aspects of life.

The Golan Heights will be very green in one sense and, in effect, will become the technological capital of renewable energy in Israel. I would like to thank the Energy Minister in this context.

I would also like to say something that is very important to me personally and I think also contributes to the resilience of the State of Israel.

The fact that the ministers of the government are here, from right and left, sitting together here, is very impressive. It is not a given.

Our government, by its very establishment, allows us to find the Israeli national consensus anew. After many years in which we constantly focused on what divides us, we are trying to emphasize here what unites us.

The Golan Heights, the need to strengthen, cultivate and live in it, is certainly a principle that unites everyone here.

I would like to thank the ministers of the government, especially my friends Minister Gideon Saar, Minister Ayelet Shaked, the Finance Minister and other ministers who joined in, also someone who is absent today, MK Tzvika Hauser, who really pushed and led us to this moment.

I would also like to specially thank Prime Minister's Office Director General Yair Pines, who has worked on this for a long time and told me this morning what cooperation he has received, with goodwill, from everyone. It was easy; it was not difficult.

And to the Israelis who are looking for a place to build their home, I say – the Heights are waiting for you; come to the Golan."

Prime Minister Bennett: "Our goal today is to double the population of the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights, the need to strengthen, cultivate and live in it, is certainly a principle that unites everyone." (Please click here for Prime Minister Bennett's full remarks.)

The Cabinet, at a festive meeting today (Sunday, 26 December 2021), approved an unprecedented plan to invest in the Golan Heights, including Katzrin.

The decision, in which most government ministries are partners, will provide for the investment of approximately NIS 1 billion in order to double the population within five years, improve quality of life and develop the local and regional economy on the Golan Heights.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Gideon Saar led the decision in which the ministries of Construction and Housing, Interior, Transportation and Road Safety, Tourism, Economy and Industry, Agriculture, Education and Environmental Protection, as well as the Israel Land Authority, are involved.

The main points of the decision are as follows:

• NIS 576 million for planning and housing

- A future addition of approximately 7,300 residential units in around five years, allocated as follows: 3,300 units in Katzrin and 4,065 in the Golan Heights Regional Council

-       The goal of the decision is to double the number of residents on the Golan Heights, including Katzrin, in the coming years, i.e. an additional 23,000 residents in the area.

-       Significantly expanding the communities of the Golan Heights Regional Council by absorbing new populations while providing economic incentives for the absorbing communities.

-       An additional 4,000 units in new communities: In the framework of the decision, two new communities (Asif and Matar) will be established on the Golan Heights, with approximately 2,000 units each (in addition to 7,300 units in the Golan Heights Regional Council and Katzrin).

-       In order to invest in housing, a special planning committee will be established, a detailed national blueprint will be advanced, a comprehensive blueprint for Katzrin will be approved and a plan for releasing live fire areas and clearing mines in the area will be implemented.

• NIS 160 million will be invested in improving quality of life on the Golan Heights:

-       Investments will be made in transportation infrastructure to link the Golan Heights to the center of the country and to link communities in the Golan Heights Regional Council area to Katzrin.

-       The provision of urgent medical care will be upgraded and the activity of the forward medical switchboard in Katzrin will be expanded.

-       The Odem Plan for developing technological-security leadership in Katzrin

-       Massive investment in education and informal education

• NIS 162 million will be invested in local and regional economic development:

-       Tourism infrastructure will be developed, centering on the Golan Trail for bicycles. Grants will be provided to for entrepreneurs in lodging (including in new facilities) and marketing.

-       Research & development and innovation: Agritech will be developed in the area and the Golan will become the 'climate technologies capital'. Impact investments will be made in the region, the food tech cluster in Kiryat Shemona will be linked to the Golan Heights, etc.

-       Industry and small businesses will be developed: Combined industry-agriculture facilities will be marketed with the support of the Foreign Trade Administration vis-a-vis exports.

• Unprecedented investment in a plan for developing employment and creating approximately 2,000 jobs on the Golan Heights:

Elements of the decision will encourage and allow for the creation of around 2,000 jobs in the following areas: Agritech, hotels, agriculture, commercial areas, base factories, etc.

• The Golan Heights will be the renewal energy capital:

-       Hundreds of millions will be invested a solar PPP project including accumulation on approximately 4,000 dunams in the Valley of Tears.

-       Agro-voltaic research and development across approximately 600 dunams

-       Tenders for agro-voltaic projects across approximately 2,000 dunams.