Despite over three years of the Palestinian Authority-initiated Oslo War, accompanied by significant government budgetary cuts and other hardships, the population of Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) communities continues to grow faster than the rest of the country. Ministry of the Interior statistics show that the population in Yesha increased by 16% since Prime Minister Ariel Sharon came into office almost three years ago - a rate that is three times higher than that of the Negev and Galilee.
The growth in Yesha covers not only larger communities in convenient areas; Gaza's Kfar Darom, for example, boasts a population increase of 52% during the past three years, while nearby Netzarim grew by 24%. In the Shomron, Yitzhar grew by 30% and Tapuach by 50%. The Hevron Jewish community gained 75 new residents, and is limited only by the number of available apartments. As 2003 draws to a close, the official population of Yesha, not including Jerusalem, exceeds 236,000.
The Labor Party's reaction to Jewish growth in Israel was to file a no-confidence motion against the government this morning. Labor MK Dalia Itzik explained that the government has no right to allocate budgets and services that serve to encourage citizens to move to Yesha communities.
The growth in Yesha covers not only larger communities in convenient areas; Gaza's Kfar Darom, for example, boasts a population increase of 52% during the past three years, while nearby Netzarim grew by 24%. In the Shomron, Yitzhar grew by 30% and Tapuach by 50%. The Hevron Jewish community gained 75 new residents, and is limited only by the number of available apartments. As 2003 draws to a close, the official population of Yesha, not including Jerusalem, exceeds 236,000.
The Labor Party's reaction to Jewish growth in Israel was to file a no-confidence motion against the government this morning. Labor MK Dalia Itzik explained that the government has no right to allocate budgets and services that serve to encourage citizens to move to Yesha communities.