After the devastating October 7th attacks, southern Israel’s Tekuma (Revival) Region faced immense destruction. Homes shattered, lives lost, and tens of thousands displaced. The government responded with a crucial promise: a multi-year, multi-billion dollar recovery effort, establishing the Tekuma Administration to lead the charge across housing, infrastructure, education, and employment.
Yet, a recent report from Israel’s State Comptroller, Matanyahu Englman, reveals a troubling reality: despite good intentions and substantial budgets, the region’s rehabilitation is lagging. The report highlights significant delays, uneven execution, and weak coordination that are slowing recovery and hindering the effectiveness of government efforts.
One major finding points to the prolonged delay in finalizing updated development budgets, especially after significant cuts were made. A five-year plan, initially set at NIS 19 billion, was revised down to NIS 17.5 billion, but the updated details were published months late, obscuring which vital programs were affected. For example, the welfare budget saw a reduction of NIS 100 million, yet details on specific service cuts remain unclear.
Coordination also proved problematic. The education plan, a massive NIS 1.7 billion effort, was drafted without proper consultation with severely affected local councils. Similarly, nearly NIS 190 million allocated to strengthen local government capacity remained unused for over a year due to administrative shifts.
While the report doesn’t shy away from criticism, it acknowledges progress: by May 2025, an encouraging 92% of Tekuma residents had returned home. However, the comptroller’s message is clear: the Prime Minister’s Office, Finance Ministry, and Tekuma Administration must urgently identify and remove these obstacles to truly advance the rehabilitation of the region and its communities. The path to revival is underway, but it needs a smoother road ahead.
