The communal settlements will be built in the Galilee, Negev, Gilboa and Arava regions.
The cabinet adopted Sunday a plan by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Minister of Housing and Construction Natan Sharansky to build 14 new yishuvim kehilatiim (communal settlements) in the Galilee, Negev, Gilboa and Arava. Minister of Defense Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and Minister of Finance Silvan Shalom support the plan. Funding will come from existing budget items at this stage and there will not be any additional budget funding.
Minister of Public Security Uzi Landau opposed the decision for environmental reasons to preserve open spaces. Minister for Regional Cooperation Roni Milo abstained. Each community will initially have 200-500 families, and eventually have 9,000 families.
Sharon said settling the Land of Israel is a strategic goal and an asset. "There is a national need to settle the Galilee so there will be land reserves for future generations," he said.
The cabinet also decided to expand existing Arab communities.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on July 22, 2002