Government Approves Updated Map of National Priority Areas
The government of Israel has approved an updated map of national priority areas in an effort to reduce disparities and promote the distribution of the population in the country. The map, which serves as a tool for the government’s work, includes new settlements and defines certain areas near the Gaza and Lebanon borders as settlements adjacent to a fence.
One of the key changes in the updated priority map is the categorization of settlements located up to 2 km from the Gaza and Lebanon border or 4 km from the border as settlements adjacent to a fence. Additionally, settlements located up to 4 km from the border will be classified based on assessments by the security establishment.
Among the 11 new settlements added to the list are Karmi Katif and Ramat Trump. The decision defines new settlements as those inhabited within the last decade, with the provision that future settlements established within this timeframe will also be included in this category.
The significance of this decision is that these localities will now be eligible to receive significant benefits, including tax and investment benefits, from all government ministries such as Education, Tourism, and the Interior. The Prime Minister’s Office has been leading an examination of the national priority map in recent months, acknowledging that it has not been widely utilized in government offices, thereby contributing to socio-economic disparities.
With the updated map, a new category of forward settlements located within 0-4 km from the border line, based on the IDF’s security opinion for 2023, will also be accounted for. This is the first update to the security opinion since 2017.
The decision regarding the national priority map will be effective until February 28, 2027, and grants government ministers the ability to prioritize activities in settlements located in the social or geographic periphery of Israel. The aim is to address social and economic disparities while also strengthening settlements near the country’s borders and encouraging population distribution in the periphery. It is important to note that this decision does not impose any obligation on the government or its authorities to grant specific rights or benefits.
This updated map and decision hold great significance for the development and growth of these settlements, providing new opportunities for their residents and creating a roadmap for future progress.