Netanyahu visits the Negev
Netanyahu visits the NegevKoby Gidon/GPO

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday visited the new IDF educational training base, under construction in southern Israel. Known as “Education City,” the new base will be the center for all IDF training courses, both combat and non-combat.

Joining Netanyahu was Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Galilee and Negev Development Minister Silvan Shalom, Prime Minister's Office Director Harel Locker, and other officials from the government and the IDF. Netanyahu and the visiting group reviewed several of the courses that were already taking place in the partially constructed base.

“Each time I come here the progress I see is amazing,” Netanyahu said. “We will not allow this amazing project to be stopped,” he said, hinting to recent opposition calls to stop funding major projects until the new elections next March. “I came here to announce that I will make sure that nothing blocks development of this site. Moving IDF bases from the center of the country to the Negev will have a profound impact on the region, and the country. It is a historical move.”

Netanyahu couldn't resist a bit of electioneering, at the expense of his rival for the Prime Minister's post, Yair Lapid. “I led the development of this project as Prime Minister, and now, as Finance Minister, I will make sure that the money is there to follow through on the plan.” Lapid had sought to slash the IDF's budget, which security officials said would impact progress in completing the base.

The Education Base is one of three the IDF is building in the Beersheva region. Eventually, some 30,000 officers and soldiers, including 6,000 career officers, will live and work on and around the bases.