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Netanyahu requests millions for West Bank settlements

December 8, 2014 at 5:27 pm

In his capacity as acting finance minister, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu requested approximately $20 million from the Knesset Finance Committee, Army Radio reported.

Netanyahu asked the committee to allocate tens of millions of shekels for settlements in the West Bank, before the Knesset votes on Monday to dissolve itself.

Netanyahu has taken over finances temporarily after the dismissal of former Minister of Finance Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party, last week due to disputes that led to the decision to hold early elections on March 17.

According to Army Radio, Netanyahu requested 80 million Israeli Shakels (approximately $20 million) for the settlement council in the West Bank.

The settlement council is a non-governmental council representing settlers in the Palestinian territories and who works on enhancing settlements in the territories.

Army Radio added: “The committee is expected to mull dozens of budgetary requests, but the proposed infusion of cash for settlements was only revealed on Monday morning.”

It added that the members of the Yesh Atid party “are vowing to join efforts with the opposition to torpedo the proposal, considering this to be electoral bribery.”

However, the Chairman of the Financial Committee, Nissan Slomiansky, attacked the attempts to torpedo this request saying: “Once again, the left-wing members in Israel are referring to the settlers in the Judea and Samaria [West Bank] area as if they are a foreign element of our people.”

There was no official comment from Netanyahu or the Knesset this morning.

Israeli media outlets have reported that Netanyahu will rely on the religious and right-wing parties to form his new government coalition. Settlers in the Palestinian territories are supporters of Israel’s religious and right-wing parties.