West Bank Settlements in the 2015-2016 State Budget

This document reviews the changes in the state budget for the years 2015-2016 relating to settlements in the West Bank and the civilian and military issues arising from the established authority of the state in this area. The emphasis in the document is the proposed changes in the budget for the various spending areas, on four main topics: Settlement Division, grants transferred to local authorities, the tax benefits to residents of the settlements and defense expenditures and Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. For each section we will review the proposed changes and the expenditure on the subject in question over time, if relevant and available data.

An examination of all issues surveyed indicate that the current government is continuing the policy of the previous Netanyahu governments - massive West Bank settlements support. A survey of long-term data indicates that since 2009 the state increased support of local authorities in the West Bank, the settlements themselves and their inhabitants. The current budget shows that such support is increasing and in some cases disguised to avoid public scrutiny, or to circumvent the provisions of the Attorney General.

The attached file is an executive summary in English.