Israel Approves Millions in Funding for Settlements

DM Slams Plan as Rewarding 'Extreme Behavior'

The Israeli Cabinet voted today to approve a large amount of additional funding for settlements in the West Bank. Though an exact dollar amount was not available, spokesmen said it would be several millions of dollars.

The funding will only be provided to a portion of the settlements, with a large amount reportedly planned for isolated settlements. Defense Minister Ehud Barak publicly ignored the deal.

“There are a number of small settlements that are routinely a source of extreme behavior,” Barak said. Late last week settlers from one of the isolated settlements attacked a nearby mosque, burning copies of the Qu’ran.

The Israeli government’s 10 month settlement “freeze” has been met with growing outrage among the settlements, and increasing promises of support from the government aimed at placating the key constituency.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.