Israel Budgets NIS 1.3 Billion for 34 New Judea and Samaria Communities

Israel's security cabinet allocated NIS 1.3 billion last month to establish pioneer neighborhoods in 34 newly approved communities across Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley, ministers disclosed Tuesday. The funding will cover prefabricated homes, roads and initial infrastructure while permanent planning continues. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the program is intended to move the decisions rapidly from paper to the ground, while Settlements Minister Orit Strock called it the largest Zionist settlement initiative since statehood. The 34 communities bring the government's approved total to 103, and a separate NIS 1.075 billion roads plan was also announced.