Israeli cabinet allocates $20Mln for illegal settlement infrastructure

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Dec 2023 18:49

The mayors of 22 settlements and regional councils in the occupied West Bank expressed strong criticism of the regime's failure to endorse 150 million shekels in security funding for "authorized" settlements.

A general view shows the occupied West Bank settlements of "Efrat", March 10, 2022. (AP)

The Israeli cabinet on Sunday approved a resolution to disburse 75 million shekels for enhancing infrastructure, particularly for security measures, in illegal Israeli settlements located in the occupied West Bank, Israeli news sources reported.

The allocated funds are intended to benefit around 70 illegal outposts, alternatively referred to as "young settlements", which have never received official authorization from the Israeli regime. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's office outlined that the funds will be utilized to procure firefighting equipment, prefabricated bomb shelters, generators, field cameras, lighting, and rescue equipment.

As per the resolution, the disbursement of funds will be overseen by the Settlements and National Projects Ministry, led by Minister Orit Strock from Smotrich's extremist Religious Zionism party.

A week ago, Israeli public broadcaster KAN revealed that Smotrich had initially proposed allocating approximately 255 million shekels from the Interior Ministry to address the requirements of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The "legal" adviser of the ministry raised objections to 180 million shekels of that total, citing a lack of justifiable reasons for the fund transfer. Consequently, instead of the initially proposed amount, NIS 75 million was redirected from the Interior Ministry and other funding sources on Sunday.

"It is a great honor to give minimal security to the pioneers of our day, who are deep in the territory and do not deserve to be fourth-class citizens," said Strock after the funds got approved, noting, "This is just the beginning."

The resolution noted that the various security components set to receive funding still require approval from the Attorney General’s Office.

The numerous settlements in question were established during the 1990s and early 2000s with assistance from various ministries, including housing and construction, defense, and energy. However, lacking formal government approval, these settlements are deemed illegal under Israeli law.

In a separate development, the mayors of 22 cities and regional councils in the occupied West Bank expressed strong criticism of the regime's failure to endorse 150 million shekels in security funding for authorized settlements. They accused the regime of neglecting the security of settlement residents.

The proposed funds, if approved, would be allocated for security measures such as fences, cameras, communications equipment, and general security infrastructure for West Bank settlements. Despite being initially scheduled for a cabinet vote, the item was removed from the agenda before Sunday's meeting.

"Many of those who you are choosing to abandon are enlisted and are in the depths of Gaza and think the government of Israel is doing everything needed to protect their families, and that is not the case," wrote the mayors.

The list of signatories included prominent figures within the Israeli settler community, such as the head of the Yesha Council settlements umbrella organization and "Gush Etzion" regional council chairman Shomo Ne’eman, Mayor of "Ariel" Eli Shaviro, Mayor of "Beitar Illit" Meir Rubenstein, Chairman of the Binyamin Regional Council Yisrael Gantz, and Mayor of "Maale Adumim" Benny Kashriel, among others.

These leaders from various settlements issued a warning, stating that if the requested security budget is not approved promptly, they would initiate a strike among the municipal authorities of the settlements.

In response, a spokesperson for Smotrich refuted the claim that a vote on the funds had been scheduled for Sunday.