The government held a special cabinet meeting yesterday on the issue of Jerusalem, in the words of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, “the capital of the Jewish people for the past 3000 years, the eternally united and indivisible capital of the State of Israel, with the Temple Mount at its center.” The meeting, attended by Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, was held in order to emphasize the government’s policy of strengthening Jewish sovereignty throughout the capital and to address the special needs of the city. In the political realm, the Prime Minister mentioned the recent actions taken by the government to halt Palestinian Authority infringement of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem and stated that such actions “will of course continue.” The cabinet approved the Prime Minister’s proposal to transfer 200 million NIS to the Jerusalem municipality during the course of this year, along with a series of other allocations for infrastructure, transportation, construction and housing, internal issues and tourism.
Among the measures agreed upon were: An additional 60 million NIS approved for the use of the municipality; 40 million NIS will be made available from the Construction and Housing Ministry’s budget for the year 2001 and 25 million NIS will be made available from the Transportation Ministry’s budget in an effort to accelerate the plan for development and infrastructure in the eastern part of the city; tourism in the capital will be developed and reinforced with a 10 million NIS infusion of funds from the Tourism Ministry; the Education Ministry will designate 10 million NIS for increased educational and cultural activities; assisting in the educational effort, the Finance Ministry authorized the use of 55 million NIS for use in building another 110 classrooms in Jerusalem. The cabinet will review all of the above allocations again at the end of the year.
Among the measures agreed upon were: An additional 60 million NIS approved for the use of the municipality; 40 million NIS will be made available from the Construction and Housing Ministry’s budget for the year 2001 and 25 million NIS will be made available from the Transportation Ministry’s budget in an effort to accelerate the plan for development and infrastructure in the eastern part of the city; tourism in the capital will be developed and reinforced with a 10 million NIS infusion of funds from the Tourism Ministry; the Education Ministry will designate 10 million NIS for increased educational and cultural activities; assisting in the educational effort, the Finance Ministry authorized the use of 55 million NIS for use in building another 110 classrooms in Jerusalem. The cabinet will review all of the above allocations again at the end of the year.