The Ministry of Construction is formulating a resolution to double the number of Israeli settlers along the territory of the Jordan Valley.
The motion for a resolution will be submitted to the government only after the approval of the state budget in the Knesset, but even before the end of the work year 2021. This is what senior government officials told Israel Today.
The Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Finance and the Interior, and the ministers headed by them, Avigdor Lieberman and Ayelet Shaked, are partners.
Small localities
The Jordan Valley is currently home to about 1,500 families - most of them in small localities that in some cases suffer from an aging population.
The goal of the government program will be to double the number of families to 3,000 within four years.
The government will set aside a sum of NIS 90 million, which will be deployed throughout the period to implement the planning.
Budgets will be directed to strengthening physical and social infrastructure in localities.
In addition, the State Treasury will finance the costs of developing the land for those who purchase land for construction in localities in the Jordan Valley.
It should be emphasized that the plan in question does not propose the establishment of new settlements, but rather the expansion of existing ones.
"There is no shortage of settlements in the area, but it is necessary to expand the existing ones, both to prevent their aging and dying and also because in the end it is a supply of more housing solutions in light of the high apartment prices," the sources explained in detail.
Environment Minister Zeev Elkin, who initiated the plan, estimates that it will not cause political or political difficulties, as there is broad national agreement on the importance of the Jordan Valley, according to them.
Other than that, promoting the program does not require the approval of the political echelon because it implements programs that have been approved in the past and have not yet been implemented.
"Just like in the Golan"
"The Jordan Valley, like the Golan Heights and other areas along the eastern strip of Israel, is a region of strategic importance, vital to the security of the state and its future, and is an integral part of the Zionist enterprise's vision," Elkin noted.
In his view, "After the plan to double settlement in the Golan, now comes the turn of the Jordan Valley, which is also in consensus. We will help settle there as they have not done for many years and work to double the population there along with strengthening, upgrading and building necessary infrastructure."
