Image by Getty Images

By Naomi Zeveloff December 19, 2016

The Israeli government will spend more than $35 million to resettle and compensate residents of Amona, the West Bank outpost slated for demolition this week, as part of a deal to peacefully relocate to other parts of the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli media reports.

In order to finance the deal, the government has approved across-the-board cuts to the 2017-2018 budget.

After the Israeli High Court ruled that the outpost was partially built on private Palestinian land, it ordered its evacuation by December 25. On December 18, Amona’s families reached a deal with the government to peacefully leave the outpost, avoiding a predicted violent showdown with the military.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Peace Now, an Israeli human rights group that petitioned the High Court for Amona’s demolition, slammed the government payout in a statement, claiming that the families would get 1 million shekels (around $259,000) each. (A government spokesperson was unable to immediately confirm that figure.)

“The right-wing settler government has conveyed a clear message — in the settlements, crime and threats pay, and how they pay,” Peace Now said.

According to Israel’s Channel 10 news, most of the $35 million will go to infrastructure, landscaping and public building at Shvut Rachel, a settlement near which Amona residents will move to. About $10.3 million will go to families for “rehabilitation of their lives.”

Contact Naomi Zeveloff at Zeveloff@forward.com or on Twitter @naomizeveloff

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount