Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) visited the protest tent outside the Prime Minister's Residence Thursday evening to show her support for the residents of Judea and Samaria who are demanding that the government increase security funding for their communities and for the paving of new bypass roads to improve road safety.
Families who have lost loved ones to terrorist attacks sit alongside the mayors and council leaders of Judea and Samaria in the protest tent, including Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, Beit Aryeh Council head Avi Naim, and Kiryat Arba Council head Malachi Levinger.
Minister Shaked stated that there were already discussions in the government about the budgets for improving infrastructure in Judea and Samaria in 2014. "We were certain that the budgets were approved, but then the coalition collapsed, partially because of arguments over this issue."
"In 2015, a right-wing government was formed, and all its ministers, including the prime minister, think that this is necessary and proper, and there are already commitments to provide budgets," she added.
Shaked emphasized that "it is not a political matter but the personal security of the half a million residents who live in Judea and Samaria, as well as their rights receive cellular reception and have good roads."
According to her, terrorists exploit places with limited or no cellular reception and poor night-time lighting to carry out attacks on Jews. "We have to ensure that this does not happen. The commitments have already been commitments, and we government ministers need act to approve the budget. We'll do it in the coming weeks."
"There are budgetary transfers for the end of 2017 and 2018, and we are starting to work on the 2019 budget. Now is the time to make sure that there is a budgetary source and we need to make sure that it happens," she said.
The head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, said, "We have heard promises and we have heard stories. Last week they said 3 billion, and this week they say 800 million. We do not believe it. A resolution without a budgetary source is not a resolution."
"At the moment there is no budgetary source. Our demand is clear - that the national camp support our struggle and not let the prime minister rest until a source of funds becomes available," Dagan said.