Israel’s government has approved a new initiative worth approximately 30 million shekels (around £7 million) designed to accelerate hotel construction in the West Bank. The scheme aims to remove planning and regulatory obstacles that have previously hindered tourism development in the region, whilst offering financial incentives to developers willing to build hospitality facilities.
Tourism Minister Haim Katz hailed the decision as a step towards unlocking what he described as the West Bank’s “immense tourism potential.” The programme is intended to streamline the approval process for new hotels and provide grants to companies undertaking such projects in the territory.
The initiative forms part of broader government efforts to develop infrastructure and economic activity in the West Bank. Tourism officials argue that hotel development could boost both employment and revenue in Palestinian areas, though such projects remain politically sensitive given the ongoing disputes between Israeli and Palestinian authorities over development rights and territorial control in the region.
Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.
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