At the end of a round of votes that went on for five and a half hours straight, the Knesset Finance Committee approved on Tuesday the allocation of over 220 million shekels (some $56 million) for settlements and settlement education in Judea and Samaria. In two days of voting, the committee has approved allocations comprising a total 15 billion shekels ($3.8 billion), or 5 percent of the 2014 government budget. The allocations approved include 780 million shekels ($198 million) for the Education Ministry; some 800 million shekels ($203 million) to compensate residents of Gaza periphery communities and residents of southern Israel who live within 40 kilometers (25 miles) of the Gaza border who suffered losses during this summer's Operation Protective Edge; 70 million shekels ($18 million) in benefits for Holocaust survivors; and tens of millions of shekels in funding for political parties and a similar amount to prepare the upcoming Knesset elections. Harsh statements flew during the committee debates. Finance Committee Chairman Nissan Slomiansky (Habayit Hayehudi) told Labor MK Stav Shaffir: "We brought in [Eshkol Regional Council head] Haim Yellin. He's the only one who can shut you up." Yellin told Shaffir that the Labor Party, in targeting the settlements, was causing much greater collateral damage to the Gaza periphery. Shaffir attacked MK Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi), saying: "You're stealing the money from the south, stealing the money from the kibbutzim. You allocate peanuts to local authorities in the north and south compared to what you allocate to the settlements." Shaked responded: "You haven't done anything for this country, only we have. Yigal Allon would turn over in his grave. You've become nothing more than posters. We do, and you stand around scratching yourselves." Despite an appeal by the Labor Party, Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein said he would not interfere with the Finance Committee's decisions.
Outgoing Knesset approves $56 million for settlements
Labor MK Stav Shaffir: You allocate peanuts to southern Israel compared to what you give the settlements • Habayit Hayeudi MK Ayelet Shaked: Labor has done nothing for this country • Attorney-general says he won't interfere in committee's decisions.
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