"Israel" failed to rehabilitate north after 2006 war
Source: AFP, 21-05-2008
OCCUPIED 'JERUSALEM' (AL-QUDS): The 'Israeli' government has failed to carry out its plan to rehabilitate the north of the country following the summer 2006 war with Lebanon, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss said in his annual report Tuesday. Lindenstrauss' document slams Premier Ehud Olmert's government for failing to provide adequate resources to help northern 'Israel', which was hit by Hizbullah's retaliation of thousands of rockets during the 34-day war.
"The plan to strengthen the north created many expectations, especially among residents of ['Israel's' third city of] Haifa and the north. The plan faded away and its effect has hardly been felt," the report said.
"One would expect that after the residents of the north had to go through such a difficult war, the government would assume responsibility and take decisive action to rehabilitate it."
According to the report, although the government earmarked 4 billion shekels (over $1 billion), only 2.8 billion shekels had in fact been allocated.
Another 1.2 billion shekels came from private donations, the report said.
"The government's reliance on donations for issues that were given high priority ... is inappropriate," Lindenstrauss said in the 1,545-page report.
The ministerial committee charged with overseeing implementation of the program which was formed in the weeks following the end of the war last convened in February 2007, the report said.
"The government did not prepare adequately to carry [the plan] out," it added.
"The government, and first and foremost the prime minister's office, should review the organization, the budget and the management of the program," the report said.
Some 160 'Israelis', mostly soldiers, were killed during the war. In Lebanon, more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed.
OCCUPIED 'JERUSALEM' (AL-QUDS): The 'Israeli' government has failed to carry out its plan to rehabilitate the north of the country following the summer 2006 war with Lebanon, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss said in his annual report Tuesday. Lindenstrauss' document slams Premier Ehud Olmert's government for failing to provide adequate resources to help northern 'Israel', which was hit by Hizbullah's retaliation of thousands of rockets during the 34-day war.
"The plan to strengthen the north created many expectations, especially among residents of ['Israel's' third city of] Haifa and the north. The plan faded away and its effect has hardly been felt," the report said.
"One would expect that after the residents of the north had to go through such a difficult war, the government would assume responsibility and take decisive action to rehabilitate it."
According to the report, although the government earmarked 4 billion shekels (over $1 billion), only 2.8 billion shekels had in fact been allocated.
Another 1.2 billion shekels came from private donations, the report said.
"The government's reliance on donations for issues that were given high priority ... is inappropriate," Lindenstrauss said in the 1,545-page report.
The ministerial committee charged with overseeing implementation of the program which was formed in the weeks following the end of the war last convened in February 2007, the report said.
"The government did not prepare adequately to carry [the plan] out," it added.
"The government, and first and foremost the prime minister's office, should review the organization, the budget and the management of the program," the report said.
Some 160 'Israelis', mostly soldiers, were killed during the war. In Lebanon, more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed.
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