RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israel's Ministry of Tourism plans to provide grants for investors wanting to build hotels in West Bank settlements — grants amounting to as much as 20% of the total intended investment.
The ministry's decision April 18 followed a meeting with Israeli tourism associations in the West Bank in early 2019, when they acknowledged that Israeli hotels in West Bank settlements can't accommodate a large number of tourists, making it difficult for tourists to travel there for more than one day, TV7 Israel News reported April 30.
The grants will be a major boost for settlements. On April 30, Israel Hayom quoted Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin as saying the grants will help solve the shortage of accommodations for tourists and "strengthen settlements and our hold on Judea and Samaria." The newspaper also quoted Shlomo Ne'eman, head of the Gush Eztion Regional Council, as saying, “This is a step toward imposing sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.”
Meanwhile, Palestinians are acutely aware of likely political developments in the coming weeks. On the one hand, the United States is expected to put forward its plan for peace in the Middle East after Ramadan ends early next month. On the other hand, after forming his government coalition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to announce the annexation of areas of the West Bank to Israel, fulfilling his election promise.
AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.
