Gov't approves budget for dealing with fire damage in Nof HaGalil
The plan is meant to provide Nof HaGalil with a budget of NIS 25 million that will be invested in rehabilitating public infrastructure and supporting residents.
By TOBIAS SIEGALA fire engulfs a house in the city of Nof HaGalil, October 9, 2020.(photo credit: POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
The government on Sunday approved a plan to provide financial aid for the Nof Hagalil Municipality after a recent fire damaged many local residents’ homes, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Finance Ministry said in a joint statement.The plan, which was proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Israel Katz, allocates a budget of NIS 25 million to Nof Hagalil (Upper Nazareth) for rehabilitating public infrastructure and supporting residents who were impacted by the fire.The first stage of the plan includes the immediate transfer of NIS 21m. for emergency expenses to address the damages.The remaining NIS 4m. will be invested in measures to prevent future fires, including creating a buffer zone between the residential area and nearby forest.“Today, the government approved a NIS 25 million budget for supporting Nof Hagalil in its rehabilitation following the damage caused by the fire,” Netanyahu said. “I know that the city was heavily damaged, and I’m proud of the fact that we reached a swift decision for helping the residents and mayor through special budgets. We will continue to provide as much assistance as needed.”Katz said: “Due to the devastating fire at Nof Hagalil, the prime minister and I proposed a wide aid plan for the rehabilitation of infrastructure and other expenses caused by the evacuation of residents. I send my support to Mayor Ronen Plot and to residents of Nof Hagalil during these difficult times and have full faith that our shared efforts will provide quick support for the residents of the area.”On October 10, dozens of fires broke out across Israel, mainly in the North. Some 5,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes in several towns, as firefighters struggled to contain the fires throughout the weekend.While most fires are believed to have been the result of the extreme heat, security officials raised concerns that some blazes in the West Bank, including a fire in Maoz Zvi, were the result of Palestinian arson.Many homes were damaged and dozens of people were treated for smoke inhalation, including about 10 firefighters.Residents of Nof Hagalil, which suffered more than other areas due to its close proximity to a forest, had to evacuate. At least one house was engulfed in flames, and four people were treated for smoke inhalation.
