Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) on Tuesday approved strategic assistance totaling 90 million shekels, including 30 million shekels for Kibbutz Manara and approximately 60 million shekels for development in the Arad Valley.
Under the first decision, Kibbutz Manara was designated a “special priority assistance target,” enabling the immediate transfer of 30 million shekels for the restoration of destroyed neighborhoods and the renewal of infrastructure. The kibbutz sustained extensive damage to its buildings and infrastructure during the war against Hezbollah, which began attacking the Jewish state a day after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
At the same time, the board approved designating the Arad Valley—including the city of Arad and the Mevo’ot Arad region—as a priority assistance area.
KKL-JNF will join the national effort to establish five new communities in the Mevo’ot Arad and Yatir regions, allocating 39.8 million shekels to complete development and infrastructure work in cooperation with the Settlement Division.
As part of its vision to reduce socioeconomic gaps and promote demographic growth, the committee also approved the establishment of a “KKL-JNF House for Excellence” in Arad.
The project will be funded with an initial investment of 19 million shekels, along with a commitment to allocate an additional 10 million shekels over five years to support the center’s ongoing educational activities following its launch.
“Our commitment to the north and the Negev does not remain on paper; we know how to be swift in finding solutions and it is a great honor for us to bring practical tools to the field and provide immediate responses where they are most needed,” said Eyal Ostrinsky, chairman of KKL-JNF.
“KKL-JNF once again proves that it is the leading operational arm in strengthening the national resilience of the State of Israel,” he added.
