JERUSALEM, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli government approved on Sunday a plan to strengthen the southern city of Sderot and the nearby Gaza-adjacent communities for the years of 2019 and 2020.

Worth 700 million new shekels (about 187.74 million U.S. dollars), the support plan intends to help residents of the area, who have been suffering for years from rockets and burning balloon attacks from the Gaza Strip.

The proposal was submitted to the government following a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and local authority heads, together with Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri.

The plan's economic assistance includes encouraging the establishment and transfer of factories to the area, assistance in education, health and welfare, and strengthening security.

In addition, assistance will be provided in agriculture, tourism, sewage infrastructure development, transportation, public buildings and waste treatment, as well as promotion of construction plans in communities, promotion of digital services, and more.