Netanyahu's Government Cuts Financial Allocations from Ministries' Budgets for Archaeological Settlement Projects in the West Bank

Translation by SadaNews - Israeli Channel 12 reported on Wednesday evening that the Israeli government approved via phone the transfer of tens of millions of shekels allocated for projects to accelerate the economy and develop high technology, in favor of preserving settlement sites described as archaeological in the West Bank.

According to the Hebrew channel, as translated by SadaNews, it was approved to cut 45 million shekels from the amount designated for accelerating economic growth and artificial intelligence, and technologically developing it, during the year 2026.

With this procedure, the amount allocated to this field decreases from 590 million shekels to 545 million shekels, and the deducted amount will be transferred directly to the Ministry of Heritage led by Amihai Eliyahu.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Finance, this is not a reduction in the budget or harmful to the budgets of current activities, clarifying that the deducted amounts are related to future programs set by the government to promote in 2026.

According to the ministry, there will be new deductions over the years from various government ministries for the same purpose, reaching an amount of 250 million shekels, ensuring the establishment of roads that facilitate access to those sites.