Israeli Gvt. Cuts Bureaucracy On Judea And Samaria Construction, Giving Authority To Finance Minister Smotrich

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Israeli government is set to take a dramatic decision which will cut most of the bureaucracy involved in building in Judea and Samaria and place the power to decide on construction issues in the hands of Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich.

Currently any construction in the region requires political approval and not civil administration approval as in any other locale. The new decision will cut the political echelon out of decisions and building permits for houses and roads will only require planning and publication without a need for state approval.

The new decision will also prevent foreign pressure on the Israeli government to stop construction in Judea and Samaria.

At the same time the government announced that the Higher Planning Committee is set to approve 4,560 new units in the region, including hundreds in Beitar Illit, Givat Ze’ev, Maale Adumim, as well as the communities of Revava, Elkana and Telem-Adora. These units are in addition to some 10,000 other units announced by the government in recent months for Judea and Samaria.

Israel has informed the Biden administration of its intention to moderate the bureaucracy in Judea and Samaria, but the decision was publicized a day before the arrival of United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, who is expected to discuss the Palestinian issue as well as settlement construction. The administration is sharply opposed to settlement construction, seeing it as an Israeli method of gaining control of territories which will prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Bet El Regional head Shai Alon welcomed the new initiative, stating that “This is a historic and Zionist decision which will create a significant spur in construction and ease the procedures and time in receiving permits. It will finally provide a solution for young couples seeking to live in the region.”