Quite a sum of money, that is being spent on internationally-recognised barriers to peace, and havend for murdering terrorists. And these settlements keep on growing in defiance of international laws, and settler terrorists keep on murdering and ethnically cleansing Palestinians.
Israeli settlements spending criticised
A disproportionate amount of the Israeli Government’s budget has been spent on Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories, a report claims. Peace Now - which tracks Jewish settlement activity - says 2.2bn shekels ($450m) from the 2001 budget were spent on settlements in the West Bank. More than 200,000 Israelis live in communities in Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza. The settlements are illegal under international law. However, the report was dismissed as “manipulative” by a group which represents settlers. It came as a new opinion poll showed the right-wing Likud party of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on course for victory in next Tuesday’s general election.
‘Political’ aims
In its report, Peace Now said that the Israeli Government spent $1,500 more per capita on Jewish settlers than it spent on citizens living in Israel. It says the money went on housing, roads, industrial development and income tax benefits.