The cabinet on Sunday 16 Adar I 5774 approved classifying 420 communities as “priority communities” for the purpose of eligibility for tax incentives. This includes border communities along the Gaza border, Israel’s northern border and 34 isolated yishuvim in Yehuda and Shomron.

The requirements for communities seeking to be included in the list include;

1) The distance from large population centers

2) Proximity to a border of a country that does not have a peace treaty with Israel (excluding the Jordan Valley communities)

3) The social-economic status of residents

Treasury officials add the extent of the incentives will be determined in the 2015 budgetary talks.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)