PM announces $4.5 billion for war-battered north at 'special meeting' few ministers attend

Netanyahu vows ‘people will flock to the north’ and that solution will be found to counter Hezbollah drone threat, after showing up late for meeting no northern mayors were invited to

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Tuesday announced the government approved an extra NIS 13 billion ($4.5 billion) to strengthen the war-battered north, following a “special meeting” of the government on the subject that nearly all ministers skipped.

The meeting, which was hurriedly scheduled after the issue was removed from this week’s cabinet meeting agenda, was not held in the north and no northern mayors or residents were invited.

Hailing the “dramatic decisions,” Netanyahu said the money would go toward developing the area within nine kilometers from the Lebanon border, including reinforcing structures amid frequent attacks by Hezbollah, though he stressed that adding bomb shelters cannot be the only step.

The premier added the government’s goal was to attract 100,000 new residents to the area by improving health, transportation, education and tourism infrastructure as well as job opportunities.

“People will flock to the north. I said the same about the south,” Netanyahu said, referring to communities close to Gaza that were devastated by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

“Today there is very strong demand there; there is tremendous growth and flourishing — and that is what will happen here as well.”

Addressing the persistent threat of Hezbollah explosive drones, Netanyahu again said Israel will find a solution and that “the best minds in Israel and abroad” are committed to the “national project” of finding one.

“We will solve this problem. We will restore security and prosperity to the north,” he said.

Israeli soldiers are seen after taking cover near the Israel-Lebanon border following a Hezbollah drone attack, June 1, 2026. (Jalaa Marey/AFP)

Netanyahu arrived late for the meeting, after missing its beginning and being criticized by opposition leaders over the matter.

Besides Netanyahu, the only ministers in attendance were Avi Dichter, Ze’ev Elkin, Amichay Eliyahu and Ofir Sofer.

Northern mayors have long fumed at what they view as insufficient government attention and help for communities that have been continuously hit by Hezbollah attacks for several years, with many residents having left and businesses closed.

“The residents of the north deserve leadership that will see them and take care of them,” Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot wrote on X, as fellow opposition chiefs Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid also criticized the low ministerial attendance.