Distinguished guests,
This plan is an inseparable part of a large project, which is considered by the Government of Israel to be one of the cornerstones of a policy to be implemented in this country in the coming years, for the development of the southern periphery, and subsequently – and simultaneously – of the North.
The Noam industrial zone desperately needs the establishment of new factories. The infrastructure is ready and impressive, and it could transform the northern Negev area from a poverty-stricken area into a springboard for the creation of jobs, and change not only the external image, but also make an essential change in the way the residents view themselves, their communities and the opportunities available to them. We speak about 300 dunams and 8,000 jobs. 8,000 jobs can serve as a significant basis to influence the entire Negev area. 12 factories have already made a commitment to transfer, and 25 are looking into it favorably. 190 dunams are already designated, and it is part of the whole area. I am convinced that the highly attractive conditions offered to the factories which will move will ultimately lead to a greater demand than supply in this zone, but we will also expand it to other industrial zones as well.
We are committed to the development of the periphery. I know that naturally – and even legitimately – there are some who are asking questions: why now? And I ask the opposite question: why only now? Why should we punish the residents of the Negev and postpone what can be done today only because someone innocently asks why we are doing it. This is an initiative of the Manufacturers Association. I remember the talks we had in my office at the Knesset many months ago, when the political reality was completely different. We agreed then to pursue this project with all our energy, because it offers hope for the residents of the Negev. I am proud that all the relevant offices and all the relevant officials succeeded in collaborating so efficiently. Do not underestimate this.
Shraga commented earlier – and these are not statements heard every day – how efficiently everyone worked. Whether it is the Israel Lands Authority, headed by Yaakov Efrati, who often said that he would want this factory to be built and operate more efficiently. But when there is a large project, when there is a feeling that something new is being created here, and hope is rekindled in the hearts of thousands of people, the Israel Lands Authority is mobilized, and it will mobilize for additional projects and prove its vitality. Likewise, the Ministry of the Interior, headed by Deputy Minister Ruhama Avraham, the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor, headed by Ra’anan Dinur, which genuinely overcame many obstacles, resulting in part from precedents set over many years, and we have embarked on an unusual and exceptional venture here. Kobi Haber was really “insignificant” – he only agreed to invest some NIS 200 million in such projects, and you know that the efficiency of all other bodies could have been even greater, but if there had been no money, it would have been difficult to achieve. Do not underestimate this. It cannot be taken for granted. It is part of a new strategy which we adopted many months ago – you cannot only talk about improving the situation and enhancing the periphery, without changing the priorities in the allocation of government budgets, in order to make it a reality. There was an attitude once – I do not want to say when – of “let things work out by themselves”. We want to arrange things, not to let them be arranged. We want to dictate the reality, not to respond to it. We want to change things, using governmental mechanisms. This is the reason people are elected to their jobs and are assigned responsibilities, in order for them to make decisions and change things, if there is need to change priorities.
I said that there were two central issues leading the Government list of priorities and which will be on the Government’s agenda in the next four years. One – determining the final borders of the State of Israel. Israel will determine its borders. It will, of course, negotiate, but it will shape its decisions, increase its priorities, enlist international support, conduct negotiations and promote change of this reality, in order to achieve, once and for all, an agreement which will guarantee final and stable borders, which will guarantee security for the State of Israel. Two – reducing social hardship, which creates a tangible threat to social unity in the State of Israel. You cannot talk about reducing social hardship through some magic trick. I do not know how to solve it in three years, and not even in six years. There are magicians who do know, but I know that it is made of a long and complicated and agreed-upon chain of steps which accumulate into one large measure. And this measure is part of our large plan for the Negev which was announced six months ago – an investment of 17 billion NIS in the coming years in the development of the Negev, the improvement of infrastructures, the transfer of military base camps and the transfer of industrial factories to their appropriate places, while developing infrastructures and bringing them to a level and quality which will make the Negev part of the center of the country.
I know that it often sounds far-reaching, but we have already had the experience when we built the system of highways and tunnels and bridges in Jerusalem – the likes of which cannot be found in any other city in the country and any other area in the country. So at first, they were slightly skeptical about this. However, today you can travel from Jerusalem to the center of the country in less than 40 minutes, and then you suddenly understand that the development of infrastructures has direct consequences on the quality of life, the ability to conduct business, develop industries, increase growth, increase export and provide jobs. When we complete the light train project in Jerusalem, which preceded all projects of mass transportation in the country (and we are already progressing at a very rapid pace), then we’ll see the vast contribution of such projects to the quality of life in this country.
These are the two central projects which are of supreme importance – determining the final borders of the State of Israel, through a process of negotiation, with international backing, but while taking the initiative ourselves, determining our own goals and using our own discretion. And on the other hand, addressing the social problems. Today we can mark a victory – not a decisive one, we did not solve all the problems. We have no such pretension. But we do want to say that we are taking one step, which is a small step in the overall problems and hardships of the State of Israel, but is a very big step for the Negev. We are not only talking, we are moving Forward, and I would like to thank all those who initiated it, who promoted it, who acted on this matter, who cooperated, who showed understanding, flexibility, wisdom, responsibility and initiative in order to implement this plan. I promise you that we will come here in a few months (it will take a little time), in order to inaugurate the new factories, launch this project and immediately lay the foundations for the next ones.
Thank you very much.