Gaza border towns in Israel will be officially recognized as national priority areas, according to a proposal submitted by Construction and Housing Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf.The aim is to provide urgent benefits in the field of construction and housing. The updated national priority map will now include areas near the borders, the perimeter fence in the Gaza Strip, and the Judea and Samaria region. This means that the residents in these areas will be entitled to benefits such as land marketing and housing loans.The proposal also expands the definition of threatened settlements to include those within a 500-meter distance from the seam barrier in Judea and Samaria, as well as settlements within a 4-kilometer range from the state borders or the perimeter fence around the Gaza Strip. The decision to update the map is based on security considerations and the need to strengthen the country's borders.The purpose of the updated map is to strengthen areas outside the demand and periphery and generate positive immigration to these localities. It aims to encourage construction, bolster security, and enhance economic resilience in these settlements.Updating the National Priority Map: Revised Rules and GuidelinesThe national priority map will be updated by adding settlements with priority based on security considerations, increasing the security component from 15% to 20%, and reducing the socio-economic index component from 20% to 15%.The Construction and Housing Ministry will provide subsidies for planning and development expenses for new construction in the included areas, depending on the type of construction and the settlement group.Residents in the settlements included in the new map will also have access to housing loans from the ministry. Eligibility for the loan will be determined by a minimum score of 1,500 points for apartment buyers in certain settlement groups.Additional housing loans, known as space loans, will also be given to encourage the purchase of homes by new settlers.Yitzhak Goldknopf, a parking lot of cars burned by Hamas terrorists, November 9, 2023 (credit: REUVEN CASTRO)The national priority map includes urban settlements with a population exceeding 2,000 people, not included in regional councils, and with a socio-economic index ranking of 5 or higher.It also includes rural settlements within regional councils, as well as local councils with a population below 2,000 people, except for rural settlements where land was marketed by the Israel Land Authority using a competitive method."Updating the map of the national priority areas immediately is a necessary and urgent step"Goldknopf emphasized the importance of supporting the strong areas surrounding Israel and strengthening the entire country's security. The update of the national priority map is seen as an urgent and necessary step in achieving this goal.The proposal for the updated map aims to strengthen and develop local authorities in these areas, promote construction, and enhance the resilience of the settlements. The Construction and Housing Ministry, alongside local authorities, considers infrastructure development and growth as top priorities in ensuring a thriving future for the country.
