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The ministry emphasized improving service to local authorities and strengthening cooperation between the ministry’s various units.

The ministry held a Design Thinking workshop, focused on the customer experience of local authorities. In addition, a professional panel was held, moderated by Shira Goldberg, Acting Senior Director of Strategy, with senior managers in the ministry, Anat Hannah Lanksner, Director of the Local Government Administration, Nadav Lachman Lazar, Director of the Economic Development Administration, Dror Soroka, Haifa District Commissioner and Acting Northern District Commissioner, and Yehuda Zemeret, Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Interior. The panel dealt with the topic of turning work plans into reality. Following this, a personal, down-to-earth interview was held with the Director General of the Ministry, Israel Ozana, moderated by Tami Nassa, Commissioner for Judea and Samaria.

The Director General of the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Israel Ozana, emphasized the importance of planning even in a complex reality: “Planning is the key to success. Not all planning is implemented – but without planning, nothing is implemented. As it is said: ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’ 

cooperation between units is not an ‘added value’ – it is a condition for success. When units manage to work together and present a unified concept, it indicates serious professional work. We are one organization, with shared responsibility.”

Shira Goldberg, Acting Director of the Senior Strategy Department: “During the conference, ministry employees practiced their ability to provide service and step into the shoes of local authorities. Likewise, from the analysis of successful reforms, it can be learned that agreements between regulators are a decisive factor for success, especially when the reforms are complex and generate opposition. As a conclusion – this year we placed a great emphasis on cooperation at the conference and in the implementation of work plans in 2026.”

Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Council for Higher Education approved the transformation of Tel Hai Academic College into Kiryat Shmona University, set to begin in the 2017 academic year, 20 years after the government first decided to establish a university in the Galilee. The upgrade comes amid local protests over displacement and lack of government support following two years of war.

The university will offer doctoral programs in biotechnology, education, psychology, and nutritional sciences, alongside a new engineering faculty and a veterinary school in the Golan Heights. Plans also include a “University City” to integrate students into Kiryat Shmona.

Officials say the university will drive regional growth, create jobs, and strengthen the social and academic fabric of northern Israel.

By Kostis Konstantinou • January 20, 2026

Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was in Athens on Monday for talks with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, highlighting strategic defense ties between the two countries.

The visit builds on an already close defense relationship that includes joint military exercises, pilot training programmes hosted in Greece, and a recently agreed trilateral military work plan with Cyprus for 2026.

Dendias said cooperation between the two countries continues to deepen, particularly in counter-drone capabilities, cybersecurity, and the exchange of operational experience. He noted that discussions also addressed developments in the Red Sea and Yemen, as well as security challenges in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking after the meeting, Dendias reiterated Greece’s condemnation of the October 7 attacks on Israel and reaffirmed Athens’ support for Israel’s right to self-defence. He added that Greece backs international initiatives aimed at stabilising Gaza and is prepared to contribute to broader efforts to promote peace and regional security. He also stressed the importance of protecting civilian populations and religious communities in Syria and Lebanon, with particular emphasis on Christian minorities.

In his remarks, Katz said Israel remains on heightened alert amid what he described as “a conflict fought across seven fronts,” warning that efforts to impose control through terrorism or regional destabilisation would face a coordinated international response. He also referred to Israel’s ongoing efforts to recover the remains of hostages and fallen soldiers held by Hamas, calling it both a moral and national obligation.

Greek media reported that the Athens talks were closely linked to wider discussions on advanced air and missile defence systems, counter-drone technologies, and maritime security. According to those reports, Israeli systems are being examined as part of Greece’s planned multi-layered air defence architecture, although no formal procurement decisions have been announced.

The trilateral cooperation includes the formation of an Eastern Mediterranean rapid response team, joint exercises and training, and working groups addressing shared security challenges — most notably Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the Israeli-Greek-Cypriot military cooperation, saying it threatens Ankara’s interests in the region.

Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen: “The delegation’s departure is an important step towards the development of the Aphrodite-Yishai field, following my meetings with the Cypriot Minister of Energy, Yiannis. Natural gas is a strategic asset of Israel, strengthening our position as a regional energy power, and we will continue to work to find and develop additional fields, which will increase natural gas production for the domestic market and for export, and will strengthen the Israeli economy.”

Continued efforts to advance the agreement for the development of the natural gas field jointly owned by Israel and Cyprus: A professional delegation from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, in cooperation with representatives from the Ministry of Justice, will depart for Cyprus this evening, in order to continue negotiations for the implementation of the fundamental understandings regarding the Aphrodite-Yishai natural gas field, and to codify them in an intergovernmental agreement. 

As part of these understandings, the development of the field will be carried out by the rights holders on the Cypriot side, while the holders of the Yishai concession and the State of Israel will receive compensation for their share in the field, which will be determined by an international expert.

The delegation’s departure constitutes a continuation of the diplomatic and professional contacts between the countries, and follows the meeting between the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen, and his Cypriot counterpart, Yiannis, which took place in jerusalem last month. 

The agreement is important for strengthening the ties between the countries with a shared vision for the development of common natural resources. Reaching understandings is expected to strengthen energy cooperation between the countries and Israel‘s position in the regional arena, and may even contribute to the ability to export gas from Cyprus to Egypt. In addition, reaching an agreement is expected to allow progress on additional issues, such as the planned electricity cable between Israel and Cyprus.

The launch meeting today was attended by employees of the National Guard and Civil Defense Administration, headed by the Head of the Administration – Tzachi Lugasi, as well as employees of the personal security Division and district managers in the Community Security Authority, led by Yair Dornfeld – Head of the Field Division and Assaf Allon – Head of Personal Security Division.

Since the establishment of the Administration (August 2025), preliminary meetings have been held to establish contact with the national community Security Authority, with the understanding that the Authority and the Administration have joint work interfaces that require close cooperation within the organization.

The National Community Security Authority serves as the prevention arm of the ministry and works to improve community security, protection, and the sense of personal security in public spaces. It promotes mapping of audiences, areas, and phenomena to identify needs in order to allow maximum adaptation for each locality. It also provides technological solutions in public spaces and operates the observation centers.

It is especially important to promote cooperation between the Authority and the Administration at this time. The Authority has an impressive presence in every locality, with local managers and prevention workers – a professional and experienced force that allows for mutual and beneficial cooperation for both bodies in the Ministry of National Security. The connection between the bodies will advance the goals of the Administration and the Authority and strengthen community security, protection, and the sense of personal security of the residents.

At the beginning of the meeting, Tzachi Lugasi, Head of the Administration, stated: “The Ministry of National Security is an executive ministry, and we are required to build a civil defense system that will provide an operational response in the field.” According to him, “This is why we have gathered here – to work together with the Authority’s managers, at headquarters and in the localities, who live the field and know the challenges up close.” “Ultimately, the main beneficiaries of this move will be the citizens of the State of Israel,” emphasized Tzachi, Head of the Administration.

Following these remarks, the Head of the Administration presented the main points of its activity in three core areas: the National Guard, security components in local authorities, and emergency response teams. Among the Administration’s key tasks are building a holistic operational concept for the National Guard and emergency response teams, and launching a framework tender that will allow for the rapid implementation of security components without the need for an independent tender by the local authority. Alongside this, the Administration creates partnerships between government ministries and relevant bodies, deals with volunteer retention, formulates security needs, and provides solutions for local authorities.

“In recent years, we have received painful reminders of the necessity of civil defense forces and security components in localities – measures designed to delay the entry of hostile elements,” explains Tzachi Lugasi, Head of the National Guard and Civil Defense Administration. “Each government ministry is allocated a budget to fund security components within its area of responsibility – the names are different, but the goal is one.” Security components include expensive, technological, and engineering security components.

Assaf Allon, Head of the Personal Security Division, emphasized the ongoing and daily familiarity of the division’s employees with technologies and cameras in the locality. “The goal is to ensure that the process is carried out efficiently and professionally, and that the professionals from the National Authority are integrated into the process,” added the Head of the Division. It should be noted that the local authority sees the local manager as the representative of the Ministry of National Security in the locality, and his status can be utilized as a central factor in creating a comprehensive and accurate picture of what is happening in the locality.

Yair Dornfeld, who serves as Deputy Head of the Authority and Head of the Field Division at the National Authority, also addressed the move: “This is a joint strategic move, in which it is essential to work together.” According to him, the goal is to create a ministerial situational picture in every locality, while utilizing the active presence of the National Authority in almost all authorities across the country. Yair thanked for the opportunity and added that he would submit a draft of a work procedure that would ensure a professional and efficient process.

After the participants’ remarks, Tzachi thanked the Authority’s employees for their willingness to be part of this move. “This move is critical to fulfilling the mission,” he said. “We will use your knowledge, your experience, and your deep familiarity with the role-holders in the localities, and you will be able to utilize our resources. Together we will create a new reality: we will reach the localities, synchronized and coordinated, and each of the bodies – including the Ministry and the local authority – will benefit from the cooperation.”

In conclusion, Tzachi emphasized that orderly cooperation at the level of security components and volunteer retention constitutes a very significant force multiplier. According to him, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Combined action will allow for broad and optimal implementation of security capabilities, in a systemic and informed manner.”

Assistance to Southern Communities After October 7th and Following Operation “Am K’Lavi”

Following the events of October 7th, the Ministry of Construction and Housing continued to invest significant resources in rehabilitating affected communities and providing support to residents who needed housing and infrastructure solutions. The Ministry led focused professional staff work, assisted local authorities in developing rehabilitation plans, and implemented emergency measures for residents requiring immediate assistance. Throughout the year, the Ministry’s teams were in direct contact with the communities, identified gaps, and accompanied the rehabilitation process with the aim of optimally returning residents to routine.
Concurrently, the Ministry led significant field work as part of Operation “Am K’Lavi,” which included a professional tour by the Ministry’s Director-General in Be’er Sheva. During this operation, meetings were held with the Mayor and his team, deficiencies in public housing buildings damaged during the war days were presented, and focused rehabilitation plans were formulated. The Ministry translated the findings from the field into work processes, starting with rehabilitation work and extending to the expansion of social and community services around public housing complexes.

Extensive Government Investments in Be’er Sheva

Following a government decision approved this year, the Ministry of Construction and Housing led a strategic investment program aimed at strengthening the city of Be’er Sheva. The Ministry coordinated extensive planning and economic work, mobilized government resources, and built a multi-year plan for the establishment of new public institutions, the strengthening of existing neighborhoods, and the development of modern urban infrastructure. The urban vision was updated according to needs that arose from the field, and the Ministry worked to incorporate innovative planning and construction elements adapted to a developing metropolis.
One of the significant achievements of this initiative is the stabilization of infrastructure for comprehensive urban renewal in the city. The updating of the master plan, the publication of policy documents, and the expansion of personnel for the Government Authority for Urban Renewal in Be’er Sheva are all steps led by the Ministry of Construction and Housing with the aim of enabling urban renewal processes to proceed at an accelerated pace, while providing a high-quality and in-depth response to the older neighborhoods and their residents.

Roof Agreements as a Catalyst for the Growth of Southern Cities

During 2025, the Ministry of Construction and Housing led a significant strategic move to strengthen southern cities, culminating in the signing of a new roof agreement with the Dimona Municipality. The agreement, signed in the presence of the Prime Minister and led by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, includes an addition of approximately 17,000 new housing units alongside the development of infrastructure, public institutions, and employment and commercial areas. Billions of shekels will be invested within the framework of the agreement, including approximately NIS 3.5 billion for the development of new neighborhoods, approximately NIS 760 million for infrastructure, approximately NIS 700 million for public institutions, and approximately NIS 330 million for the upgrade of the old city. The agreement was formulated and advanced following professional staff work by the Ministry of Construction and Housing and continues Dimona’s development momentum as a leading regional city in the Negev. Concurrently, the Ministry is in advanced stages of signing another roof agreement in the city of Sderot, as part of the expansion of government investment in southern cities.

Promoting the Establishment of New Communities in the South

The year 2025 was a breakthrough year in promoting new communities in the Negev. The “Rosh Ha’ishonim” (First Settlers) district plan in the city of Menora (formerly Kasif) reached a significant stage this year, with the special committee approving its deposit. The Ministry of Construction and Housing has led the comprehensive planning of the city for years, conducting professional field work and creating modern planning intended to provide a response to a growing Haredi population. The continued promotion of the city is a central pillar in strengthening settlement in the eastern Negev.
Concurrently, the Ministry led in-depth processes to promote the settlement region along Highway 25, between Be’er Sheva and Dimona. The approval of the memorandum by the Southern District Planning Committee is the result of comprehensive planning work that the Ministry led in cooperation with the Settlement Division, and it continues to advance to the National Planning Council. In the approaches to Arad, at the Tze’elim junction, in the Yatir area, and in Ramat HaNegev, the Ministry also promoted the planning of new community settlements, based on a strategic concept aimed at attracting new populations and strengthening the southern region.

The Ministry’s Activity in the Rural Sector

In the rural sector, the Ministry worked to strengthen communities and enable balanced demographic growth. The government’s decision to support communities located 0-7 km from the Gaza border was largely shaped by planning and policy promoted by the Ministry, which provides increased subsidies for land development, aiming to reduce construction costs and make it easier for young families to choose to live in the area. The Ministry worked in coordination with the Resilience and National Reconstruction Administration to promote a call for proposals for community growth and accompanied local authorities in planning new neighborhoods.
Throughout the year, the Ministry was involved in promoting dozens of rural communities from the northern Negev to the Eilat region. The Ministry’s planning teams formulated plans for neighborhood development, infrastructure upgrades, and improvement of public buildings, and prepared the infrastructure for significant growth expected in 2026. The Ministry’s work in the rural sector ensures the strengthening of regional council communities, the creation of new communities, and the expansion of agricultural and community settlement.

Expanding Housing Supply: “Apartment at a Discount” Lotteries

The “Apartment at a Discount” program continued to be one of the Ministry of Construction and Housing’s main tools for providing housing solutions to the public this year. In January, the Ministry opened a large-scale lottery that included thousands of housing units in the South, and later in the year, the ninth lottery was managed, with nearly one hundred thousand households registering. The high numbers registered this year indicate significant demand and high public trust in the Ministry’s housing programs. The Ministry continues to promote additional marketing campaigns throughout the South, increase the actual supply of apartments, and accompany eligible individuals until they receive the keys, as part of the vision to provide higher quality and more accessible housing solutions.
Urban Renewal in the South

The Ministerial Committee for Interior Affairs approved a series of decisions this year, initiated and promoted by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, focusing on expanding urban renewal options in the South. The Ministry’s work contributed to the creation of a planning and economic foundation that allows for the construction of over 30,000 new housing units, with a focus on cities like Kiryat Malakhi and Netivot. These initiatives provide local authorities with significant tools to improve older neighborhoods and adapt them to the needs of the 21st century.

The Ministry continued to accompany local authorities in evacuation-construction processes and to push forward significant plans, including the massive renewal plan in Netivot, which will include 13,000 housing units and comprehensively upgrade the old city. In Kiryat Malakhi, initiatives were also promoted that will enable the construction of new neighborhoods, the development of commercial and employment areas, and the expansion of public buildings – all as part of the Ministry’s leadership in strengthening southern cities.

In conclusion, 2025 was a turning point year for the South, which received comprehensive planning and execution leadership from the Ministry of Construction and Housing. The totality of the moves – from the establishment of new communities to urban renewal, from investments in Be’er Sheva to the development of the rural sector, and from expanding housing supply to rehabilitating communities – created a real foundation for accelerated regional growth. The Ministry will continue to operate with full force in the coming years to ensure that the Negev develops, attracts new populations, and offers its residents a high quality of life, based on advanced planning, employment, infrastructure, and accessible housing.

The Director General of the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Israel Ozana, honored us with his presence. He emphasized the importance of the work of the Administration for local government and noted that direct connection to the field is critical, inviting participants to an open dialogue and to ask questions, and to translate the insights that arise in the meeting into operational steps to advance the Ministry’s activities. As part of the meeting, a panel was held with the participation of senior department managers in the Administration for Local Government, leading round tables in cooperation with the professional teams in the Administration on the topics of auditing, human capital, municipal corporations, and control and economics. Participants included Dr. Yossi Benishti, Senior Director of Control and Economics; Haim Yifrach, Senior Director of Human Capital Management in Local Authorities; Avi Agniahu, Senior Director of Auditing in Local Authorities; Tatiana Ilianov, Deputy Senior Director of Municipal Corporations; and Pazit Yitzhak, Director of Regulation Improvement.

The panel and the team round tables included discussions and dialogue on pressing issues on the agenda. To conclude, Nadav Lachman, Director of economic development at the Ministry of Interior and a member of the Ma’oz Network, delivered a fascinating lecture on the Administration’s 2026 development plans and the interfaces with the Administration for Local Government.

The Director of the Administration for Local Government, Ms. Anat-Hana Lenkser, stated that the aforementioned meeting is another step towards increasing trust between local government and central government for partnership, transparency, and streamlining services and responsiveness. According to Lenkser, these are often systems that speak “different languages,” and sometimes a third solution is needed to resolve intractable tensions stemming from the different systems that exist between central government and local government.

During the meeting, dialogue was created and an expectation for continuation was expressed, with an attempt to map barriers and formulate joint solutions to municipal challenges. The insights that arose during the meeting will be translated into operational steps to improve the response of the Ministry of Interior and strengthen cooperation with the authorities.

Thanks to the “Ma’oz” Network and the teams of the Administration for Local Government for a welcome initiative.

The office management began the day with a tour of “Beit HaMeyasdim” (House of the Founders), the memorial site for those who fell in the events of October 7th and the Swords of Iron War, and afterwards held the management meeting at the Sderot municipality.

The meeting discussed a series of professional issues concerning the activities of local authorities in the Southern District, as well as the Ministry’s preparedness for emergency situations, with an emphasis on the readiness and operational continuity of local authorities in any emergency.

The launch meeting today was attended by employees of the National Guard and Civil Defense Administration, headed by the Head of the Administration – Tzachi Lugasi, as well as employees of the personal security Division and district managers in the Community Security Authority, led by Yair Dornfeld – Head of the Field Division and Assaf Alon – Head of the personal security Division.

Since the establishment of the Administration (August 2025), preliminary meetings have been held to establish contact with the National Community Security Authority, with the understanding that the Authority and the Administration have joint work interfaces that require close cooperation within the organization.
The National Community Security Authority serves as the prevention arm of the Ministry and works to improve community security, protection, and the sense of personal security in the public space. It promotes mapping of audiences, arenas, and phenomena to identify needs in order to enable maximum adaptation to the needs of each locality. It also provides technological solutions in the public space and operates the observation centers.
It is particularly important to promote cooperation between the Authority and the Administration at this time. The Authority has an impressive presence in every locality, with locality managers and prevention staff – a professional and experienced force that enables mutual and beneficial cooperation for both bodies in the Ministry of National Security. The connection between the bodies will advance the goals of the Administration and the Authority and strengthen community security, protection, and the sense of personal security of the residents.
At the beginning of the meeting, Tzachi Lugasi, Head of the Administration, stated: “The Ministry of National Security is an execution-oriented ministry, and we are required to build a Civil Defense system that will provide an operational response in the field.” According to him, “This is why we have gathered here – to work together with the Authority’s managers, at headquarters and in the localities, who live the field and know the challenges up close.” “Ultimately, the main beneficiaries of this move will be the citizens of the State of Israel,” emphasized Tzachi, Head of the Administration.

Following these remarks, the Head of the Administration presented the main points of its activity in three core areas: the National Guard, security components in local authorities, and emergency response teams. Among the Administration’s key tasks are building a holistic operational concept for the National Guard and emergency response teams, and launching a framework tender that will enable the rapid implementation of security components without the need for an independent tender by the local authority. Alongside this, the Administration creates partnerships between government ministries and relevant bodies, deals with volunteer retention, formulates security needs, and provides solutions for local authorities.
“In recent years, we have received painful reminders of the necessity of civil defense forces and security components in localities – means intended to delay the entry of hostile elements,” explains Tzachi Lugasi, Head of the National Guard and Civil Defense Administration, “Each government ministry is allocated a budget to fund security components within its area of responsibility – the names are different, but the goal is one.” Security components include expensive, technological, and engineering security components.

Assaf Alon, Head of the Personal Security Division, emphasized the ongoing and daily familiarity of the division’s employees with the technologies and cameras in the locality. “The goal is to ensure that the process is carried out efficiently and professionally, and that the professionals from the National Authority are integrated into the process,” added the Head of the Division. It should be noted that the local authority sees the locality manager as the representative of the Ministry of National Security in the locality, and his status can be utilized as a central factor in creating a comprehensive and accurate picture of what is happening in the locality.

Yair Dornfeld, who serves as Deputy Head of the Authority and Head of the Field Division at the National Authority, also addressed the move: “This is a joint strategic move, in which it is essential to work together.” According to him, the goal is to create a ministerial situational picture in each locality, while utilizing the active presence of the National Authority in almost all authorities throughout the country. Yair thanked them for the opportunity and added that he would submit a draft work procedure that would ensure a professional and efficient process.

After the participants’ remarks, Tzachi thanked the Authority’s employees for their willingness to be part of this initiative. “This move is critical to fulfilling the mission,” he said. “We will use your knowledge, your experience, and your deep familiarity with the officials in the localities, and you will be able to utilize our resources. Together we will create a new reality: we will reach the localities, synchronized and coordinated, and each of the bodies – including the Ministry and the local authority – will benefit from the cooperation.
In conclusion, Tzachi emphasized that orderly cooperation at the level of security components and volunteer retention constitutes a significant force multiplier. According to him, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Combined action will enable broad and optimal realization of security capabilities, in a systemic and informed manner.”