Priorities map passed by cabinet
Five Labor ministers oppose list of communities destined to receive state benefits due to inclusion of settlements; Shas ministers who objected earlier were appeased by inclusion of Gush Katif evacuees
The cabinet approved a national priorities map Sunday, which will grant various benefits to a list of communities in Israel. Twenty-one ministers voted in favor of the bill while the five Labor Party ministers voted against it.
Netanyahu capitulated to Shas pressure and added to the list communities of Gush Katif evacuees in Lakhish Regional Council. The list also includes numerous settlements, among them the Jewish settlement in Mount Hebron.
The evacuees' communities were added thanks to a final decision to include all communities under five years old as well as all those in which the population has grown sevenfold.
Earlier Netanyahu suggested during the weekly cabinet meeting that the Defense Ministry appoint a ministerial committee to decide on a list of cities, villages, and settlements to be included in the list of communities destined to receive various benefits from the state.
Labor ministers had rejected the list because it included settlements, and in the end voted against it, which prevented it from passing unanimously. However the committee may still examine whether to include controversial cities such as Ashkelon and Maale Adumim, which are currently excluded.
At the weekly meeting Netanyahu said the current national priorities list includes two million citizens, 40% of them non-Jewish.
"It includes benefits in the fields of education, employment, and infrastructure," Netanyahu said of the list. "The issue of defense is also addressed."
The prime minister failed to mention the settlements included in the list, as well as controversial cities such as Ashkelon.
