Tech Giants Join Plan To Create Jobs In Stricken Southern Israel

Major tech companies have joined forces with a non-profit initiative to help create hundreds of sector jobs in southern Israel following the Hamas attack there on October 7. 

Place-IL, which was founded last year by tech veterans to help members of Israel’s underrepresented populations find work in the field, says it is now raising millions of shekels for the program in the Western Negev. It is working with tech giants such as Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, Cisco and SalesForce to find employment for people in the devastated communities. 

The program aims to help both people who were evacuated following the attack and those who remained in their homes. It is also working with the government in Jerusalem as well as Western Negev local authorities such as Sderot and Ofakim. 

The plan includes the construction of a 15 million-shekel high tech complex in the city of Sderot, where the new employees from a range of companies will be based.

“Alongside proper security conditions, creating jobs, especially in high tech, is an important pillar that will foster resilience and growth for the Western Negev,” said Place-IL Chairman Idan Tendler.

“This is our time to open the door and draft local personnel who can integrate into the sector. The local presence that high tech companies have created in the Western Negev, and the new employment opportunities, are crucial for building resilience and hope, for the Western Negev residents and the entire nation,” said Tendler, who also serves as senior VP at Palo Alto Networks.