Israel: Government Approves Majority of Settlements in West Bank

On Sunday, the Israeli Cabinet approved the National Priorities Map by 21 votes to 5 (all the No votes from Labour members) on Sunday. This plan would transfer millions of shekels into West Bank settlements.

According to Peace Now, 91 out of 121 current settlements are on the list, including many settlements in isolated West Bank spots located beyond the security barrier. The Cabinet also decided to set up an exceptions committee that will decide within 30 days whether to add Ashkelon to the plan and whether to keep settlements east of the security fence on the map.

The Labor leader Ehud Barak criticized the vote, "I don't think that we need to award [the settlements] a prize in the form of including them in the national priority map." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, "We will determine the future of settlements only within the framework of a permanent agreement [with Palestinians]. This map is intended to close rifts and this time, also to bring in our security concerns."