Israel approves list of priority settlements.

On August 4th, the Israeli cabinet approved a new map of national priority areas, including many small settlements located outside the security perimeter, just one week before peace talks with the Palestinians are scheduled to begin.

Communities benefiting from this national priority status will receive immediate funding for education, culture, sports, and environmental protection. Meanwhile, areas such as housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and rural development will require a second round of approval due to Israel's 2005 commitment to the US government to discourage Israelis from moving to settlements. Some of the newly added communities are outside of major settlements, while others were previously considered illegal before being legalized by the Israeli Cabinet a few months ago.

Construction site of the Alon Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem on December 3. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Of the 600 communities on this list, approximately 90 are outside the Green Line, an increase of six communities compared to the national priority list adopted by Israel in 2012. However, the Israeli government explains that the areas and communities on the list are not related to the settlement expansion policy. Officials assert that any West Bank settlement receiving priority under this plan will need to be approved a second time by the government.

The list of priority areas was outlined based on several criteria, such as security, economic situation, location, and distance from the border. Four Israeli ministers abstained from voting, including the Justice Minister and head of the Palestinian peace negotiating team, Tzipi Livni, and the Minister of Environmental Protection, Amir Peretz. Minister Peretz argued that "this is not the right time" diplomatically and socio-economically to invest inappropriate funds in new settlements that until recently were illegal.

Responding to Israel's latest move, PLO leadership member Hanan Ashrawi condemned the inclusion of settlements on the priority map as "a measure that destroys trust." Ashrawi stressed: "While Palestine cooperates with international efforts to find a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, Israel once again responds by destroying the 1967 borders and violating international law." He accused Israel of attempting to seize more Palestinian land and called for a strong international response.

The spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rdainah, also strongly condemned Israel's actions and accused Israel of seeking to obstruct peace efforts. President Abbas has long demanded an end to the construction of Jewish settlements as a condition for continuing peace talks, but US Secretary of State John Kerry reached an agreement with the Palestinians after Israel decided to release 104 Palestinian prisoners.

According to (VNA) - DT