Liberman Announces New Pre-Military Academy to Be Named After Hadar Goldin

Jerusalem, 31 January, 2018 (TPS) -- Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced Wednesday that the defense ministry would set up a pre-military academy at Kibbuz Sufa, on the Gaza border, to be named after Lt. Hadar Goldin, an IDF officer who fell in action in Operation Protective Edge in 2014 and whose remains are still being held by Hamas.  

Speaking at a tree-planting ceremony at Kibbutz Kfar Azza in honor of Tu B’Shevat, the Hebrew calendar version of Arbor Day, Liberman also said he would institute a fast-track compensation program for farmers working near the border with the Gaza Strip.

“The communities around the Gaza Strip are in the midst of growing momentum of development and absorption of hundreds of new families. Our role is supporting them and strengthening their sense of security, including financial security,” Liberman said.

“For this reason, we approved the compensation mechanism of the ‘Green Track’ to farmers who cultivate fields until the very last millimeter before the fence, and often have to halt their work due to security tensions. I hope that this green track, that we built together with Property Tax representatives, will allow farmers to receive quick and effective compensation, and I hope farmers will be able to continue cultivating the land all the way until the fence.”