Israeli Government Allocates $850m for East Jerusalem Development, Amid Controversy

The Israeli government has approved a five-year, $850 million plan to further develop East Jerusalem, including investment in infrastructure, education, employment, welfare, and the environment. The plan also includes the approval of 2,000 new housing units for Palestinian residents. However, a program enabling Palestinians to study in Israeli pre-college preparatory programs was dropped due to opposition from the finance minister. Critics argue that the previous plan favored settler organizations and aimed to "Israelize" the Palestinian population.