Recently, it was reported that the Israeli government approved 500 million additional shekels in compensation for Gush Katif expellees. There were several reports in the press detailing the distribution of monies to individual families.

According to a recent pamphlet compiled by involved Knesset members, the amounts of money to be given to expelled families have been exaggerated in the press. For example, former residents of Gush Katif over three years of age will not receive any vetek money (based on years of residence). That is, family members will not receive the 7,000 NIS as reported on the Ynet Internet news site on April 25, 2007 ("Gush Katif evacuees to get new aid package" by Itamar Eichner). Children three years of age and under, who previously did not receive vetek compensation, will now receive 1-3 years of residence money for years lived in Gush Katif.

The lump sum grant of 230,000 NIS, as reported in Ynet, was also exaggerated. The grant varies from 125,000 to 185,000 NIS, depending on the number of minor children, and only applies to home owners. Furthermore, this payment will be paid out in several installments over the course of several years from now. Families that lived in public housing receive only 50% of this grant, and families that rented private housing in Gush Katif do not receive this grant.

Private renters - who, under the original Disengagement Compensation Law, received no housing compensation - will now receive a paltry 35,000 NIS per adult and 15,000 NIS-20,000 NIS for each additional minor child; up to four children only. Again, this money is paid in installments over several years, and will only be paid if the family builds a home in a transplanted, reestablished Gush Katif community.

The new allocation does allow families from "unrecognized" communities (e.g., Tel Katifa, Shirat Hayam) to receive what their fellow Gush Katif residents received in "recognized"
It is still far below the average building costs in Israel.
communities. Additionally, home owners who were paid the minimum ($750 per square meter) housing compensation will be upgraded to $850 per square meter, but that is still far below the average building costs in Israel. Those reestablishing their businesses will receive 15% of the startup costs instead of the previous 10%. There will be a continuation of rent subsidies for those in temporary government "caravillas" - provided they build new homes in transplanted, reestablished Gush Katif communities.

For those who previously were unable to afford to buy a home in their new location outside Gush Katif or northern Samaria - they will still be unable to afford such a purchase.

As for unemployed former residents of Gush Katif and Samaria, only those who are currently unemployed and previously qualified for unemployment payments (histaglut) will be able to receive an extension of this benefit.

Finally, no benefits will be given unless the uprooted citizens sign a form that gives up their right to sue the government for any additional compensation.

The bottom line is that the government continues to deny the former residents of Gush Katif and Samaria the financial means to recreate their previous housing conditions, and that high levels of unemployment will continue to plague expellees.