Haim Bibas, Chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, addressing Maariv’s Economic Conference, called to expand the powers of local authorities during emergencies. He said that a municipal leader knows better than anyone what is right for their community—whether to open the education system, how to operate essential services, and how to manage the situation on the ground.
Bibas emphasized that even in the most difficult periods—including October 7, Operation Rising Lion (Am KeLavi), and the current war—local authorities are required to continue providing basic services to residents. “At the end of the day, garbage must be collected, and residents must receive services,” he said. According to him, if a solution is not found for essential workers and they are not retained in their roles, authorities will struggle to bring them back in the future. “If you put them on unpaid leave, you won’t be able to bring them back,” he warned.
When asked whether the government trusts local authorities, Bibas replied that some things are working well, especially when agreements were made in advance, citing cooperation with the Tax Authority as an example. However, he said one key component is still missing: the establishment of a dedicated emergency fund for authorities affected during crises. He noted that the Federation of Local Authorities has created an assistance fund in partnership with Mifal HaPais, designed to enable the immediate transfer of funds to mayors and local authorities so they can begin operating without delays. “You come to a mayor, give them the money immediately, and get moving. It’s a tremendous change,” he said.
“Give us the authority to manage the situation”
Bibas devoted a significant portion of his remarks to the situation in the North, saying it must be handled in an entirely different way. According to him, Kiryat Shmona requires a full national effort: “We need to drop everything, place a representative from every government ministry there, and rebuild the city.” He added that Israel’s true resilience lies in its border communities—in the North, the Jordan Valley, and the South—and therefore they must be at the top of national priorities. Assistance, he said, must first and foremost be directed to the North and South, particularly to weaker municipalities that need an “immediate injection.”
Bibas noted that a government decision has already been made to provide immediate assistance of NIS 20 million to affected authorities, but said that, in his view, the North is a different kind of event that requires a different scale of response. He said he recently visited Metula, Hatzor, and Nahariya, describing a reality in which “you hear the boom and then the siren.” According to him, these communities require far more extensive treatment alongside significant financial investment. “They need a different kind of response, and we must pour a great deal of money into them,” he said. He added that discussions are ongoing with the Finance Ministry to allocate additional budgets to local authorities and called on the government: “Give us the authority to manage the situation.”
Addressing the crisis in the education system, Bibas said preparations must be made for the possibility that the war will continue for many more months. Therefore, a uniform solution for the entire country is not appropriate. According to him, some authorities can open educational institutions while others cannot. “In places with fewer sirens, set a framework for them,” he said, again emphasizing that decisions should remain in the hands of local leaders who understand local needs and risks.
When asked about the Forum of 15 – the association of Israel’s self-government cities - fiscally autonomous municipalities that do not depend on annual national "balance" or "development" grants – and the multiplicity of frameworks within local government, Bibas said that alongside the Federation of Local Authorities, there are additional forums—including those representing Arab authorities, Druze authorities, and the development forum of 38 cities led by Benny Biton. According to him, each forum has its own weight, but ultimately, the decisions on the ground are made by the mayor or head of the local authority.