Gov’t to Allocate NIS 72M for Yehudah and Shomron

The government is set to approve on Sunday an allocation of NIS 72 million for Jewish communities in Yehudah and Shomron. The money will be distributed via a number of ministries. The allocations are to be distributed at the request of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in order to compensate communities for the increased expenses they are incurring as a result of the difficult security situation they have faced in recent months.

NIS 15 million of the money will be distributed directly to local authorities in Yehudah and Shomron, pro-rated based on the number of residents in a town. In addition, the Agriculture Ministry will distribute NIS 10 million for the repair and upkeep of public buildings, and the Health Ministry will distribute NIS 12 million over the next three years for the establishment of mental health clinics and inoculation and vaccination centers in schools throughout the region. The Education and Welfare Ministries will be involved in this project as well.

In addition, the Welfare Ministry will distribute NIS 6 million for social programs to help poor residents of the area; the Ministry for Social Equality will receive NIS 2 million; the Education Ministry will allocate NIS 6 million of the money to assist at-risk youth; and the Public Security Ministry will receive NIS 1.5 million to run programs to prevent violence among youth.

Other allocations will be made for various programs to the Science, Economy, and Tourism Ministries to establish funds for low interest loans to small businesses and for development of tourism infrastructure in the region. Among the programs to be funded will be one to encourage investment in businesses and infrastructure in Yehudah and Shomron, the first time such a program will be available in the region.