Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel is in the midst of promoting the relocation of the Agricultural Research Organization Volcani Center from Rishon Lezion to the Galilee.
According to Ministry of Agriculture plans, the relocation of the center which sits on 740 acres between Beit Dagan and Rishon LeZion will provide employment opportunities for Galilee towns and allow for the construction of 15,000 homes on itscurrent site. The area falls under the municipal jurisdiction of Rishon LeZion.
The proposal written by the office of the Minister of Agriculture call for the establishment of an inter-ministerial team to identify a location in the Galilee and formulate within three months a comprehensive framework for the relocation and expansion of the Volcani Center.
According to the proposal, the committee chair will be the director-general of the Prime Minister’s Office. It will also include the director-general of the Ministry of Agriculture, the director-general of the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee, the Ministry of Finance budget director, the Accountant General, and the Israel Land Authority chief.
Strongly opposed to the relocation are the 700 employees at the center, who claim the decision was taken without consultation and without any notification despite its critical consequencesfor their employment conditions and future employment.
The employees will protest on Tuesday against the decision; they are preparing to announce a labor dispute and to undertake the necessary steps to fight the plan.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 8, 2016
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