Spoetnik
08-09-04, 12:57
Agriculture Minister plans Jordan Valley settlement expansion
By Amiram Cohen, Haaretz Correspondent
Agriculture Minister Israel Katz plans to expropriate some 31,000 dunams of land to expand settlements in the Jordan Valley, he revealed Tuesday.
While on a tour of the Jordan Valley, Katz said he intended to implement the plan "without unnecessary delays." Katz said in the near future he would be bringing it before the ministerial committee on for the development of rural settlement, which he chairs.
The plan envisions taking 3,200 dunams of land now occupied by Israel Defense Forces bases in the area, and another 28,000 dunams of grazing land.
According to Katz, the goal of the expropriation is "to hold [the land] and designate it for Jewish settlements in the valley and to prevent the possibility of their being taken over by hostile elements."
The plan includes awarding grants and loans to Jews who move to the Jordan Valley to establish a farm.
Katz announced he would establish a special team to work on the plan which would consist of himself, the chairman of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, a Jewish National Fund representative and other settlement and treasury officials.
Katz said he believed the plan would encourage the establishment of light industry involving the processing of farm products for export and would develop rural tourism
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=475204&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y
By Amiram Cohen, Haaretz Correspondent
Agriculture Minister Israel Katz plans to expropriate some 31,000 dunams of land to expand settlements in the Jordan Valley, he revealed Tuesday.
While on a tour of the Jordan Valley, Katz said he intended to implement the plan "without unnecessary delays." Katz said in the near future he would be bringing it before the ministerial committee on for the development of rural settlement, which he chairs.
The plan envisions taking 3,200 dunams of land now occupied by Israel Defense Forces bases in the area, and another 28,000 dunams of grazing land.
According to Katz, the goal of the expropriation is "to hold [the land] and designate it for Jewish settlements in the valley and to prevent the possibility of their being taken over by hostile elements."
The plan includes awarding grants and loans to Jews who move to the Jordan Valley to establish a farm.
Katz announced he would establish a special team to work on the plan which would consist of himself, the chairman of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, a Jewish National Fund representative and other settlement and treasury officials.
Katz said he believed the plan would encourage the establishment of light industry involving the processing of farm products for export and would develop rural tourism
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=475204&contrassID=1&subContrassID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y