Defense Minister Israel Katz announced earlier this week that nine additional communities in northern Israel will now be recognized as frontline border communities.
The communities—Sde Eliezer, Kisra-Sumei, Yesud HaMa'ala, Or HaGanuz, Meron, Bar Yochai, Safsufa, Beit Jann, and Hulata—will join the list of communities eligible for the security measures and economic benefits granted to all frontline border communities.
“This is an important and justified decision that grants the residents of these communities the recognition they deserve, along with the rights associated with their status as frontline border communities,” Katz said upon announcing the decision.
The announcement was welcomed by the communities themselves, though it was accompanied by sharp criticism of its timing. Residents argue that if the nine communities, which have been fighting for recognition since the beginning of the war, had received it earlier, they would have had access to significantly stronger economic tools to support their populations throughout the conflict.
It should be noted that even before the Defense Minister’s announcement, all nine of the communities in question had already been included in the multi-year plan for the rehabilitation and development of northern Israel.
Under this program, the communities are expected to receive approximately 12 billion shekels for comprehensive protective fortification measures, as well as investments in education, healthcare, welfare services, and infrastructure.
As part of the rehabilitation plan, frontline border communities are expected to become eligible for additional tax benefits, alongside property tax (arnona) discounts, subsidized educational frameworks, and tailored evacuation programs if needed.
The level of tax benefits is expected to increase subject to a future decision by the Finance Minister. Currently, the tax reduction in these communities ranges from 7% in Hulata to 14% in Kisra-Sumei, and is expected to rise temporarily once a formal government decision on the matter is approved.
