Cabinet approves nat'l priority map

The cabinet approved the national priorities map by 21 votes to five on Sunday. Ashkelon was not included in the map, but many settlements were, including several settlements in isolated West Bank spots located beyond the security barrier. The ministers also decided to set up an exceptions committee that will decide within 30 days whether to add Ashkelon to the plan and whether to keep settlements east of the security fence on the map. Following pressure from Shas, Lachish region locales to which Gush Katif evacuees were relocated were added to the list. Following the vote, Science Minister Daniel Hershkowitz lauded the decision, calling the map a "necessary, ethical decision that fits with the ongoing efforts of this government to recuperate the evacuees of Gush Katif." The five Labor ministers voted against the map after Defense Minister and Labor leader Ehud Barak voiced his fierce opposition to the plan saying it "disproportionately represented" residents of isolated settlements and gives a "prize" for right-wing extremism. "Labor's preference is the Galilee, Negev and periphery. Period," Barak said. "The IDF safeguards the security of Israelis everywhere and will continue to do so in every situation.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the cabinet's approval of a plan to change Israel's map of national priority areas to include more West Bank settlements did not signify a permanent stance on the future of these areas.

"We will determine the future of settlements only within the framework of a permanent agreement [with Palestinians]," Netanyahu said, according to Army Radio. "This map is intended to close rifts and this time, also to bring in our security concerns."

The cabinet approved on Sunday the controversial plan - which will pump millions of shekels into West Bank settlements - after Netanyahu decided to review the list of communities for which funds were earmarked. All of the ministers from the Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas parties voted in favor, following a five-hour debate on the matter at the weekly cabinet meeting; Labor's five ministers opposed.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the Labor chairman, attacked the plan during the discussion, warning that some of the money would end up in the hands of right-wing extremists.


"I don't think that we need to award them a prize in the form of including them in the national priority map," said Barak, referring to the plan.(20,19)