The Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund’s (KKL-JNF) board of directors has approved a NIS 6 million emergency assistance package for residents living along the northern border, the organization announced.
The aid is aimed at communities located within 0-2 kilometers of the border fence, including Shlomi, Metula, and Kiryat Shmona, as well as several regional councils along the confrontation line.
According to the plan, NIS 4.5 million will be allocated to fund organized respite stays in hotels across the country for approximately 5,000 residents and families. The initiative is set to begin in the days leading up to Passover and continue throughout the holiday period.
The program will include accommodation, transportation, and educational activities, offering participants temporary relief from the ongoing security situation in the North.
An additional NIS 1.5 million has been earmarked for urgent and special cases among residents who are unable to remain in their homes for extended periods.
This includes individuals without access to protected spaces, as well as elderly residents, people with physical limitations, and those facing complex socioeconomic challenges.
The funds will be transferred directly to local authorities to enable rapid response to immediate needs, KKL-JNF said.
KKL-JNF chairman Eyal Ostrinsky said the decision marks a broader effort to support communities facing sustained security threats.
“On the eve of Passover, it is our national and moral duty to ensure that residents of the northern confrontation line are granted a moment of calm and security,” he said.
Assisting vulnerable residents
He added that particular emphasis had been placed on assisting vulnerable populations who are unable to evacuate independently, describing the current situation for some residents as “a matter of life and death.”
The organization said the initiative will be implemented in several stages and managed directly by KKL-JNF, in coordination with local authorities.
Notably, the aid package comes as northern communities continue to face security challenges along the Lebanese border, with residents enduring prolonged uncertainty and disruption.