Israel prepares to build hotels in West Bank settlements

A special Israeli panel will propose that the government give grants for building hotels in West Bank settlements near Jerusalem to absorb some of the high demand for hotel rooms, Israeli newspaper (Haaretz) reported. A new interministerial committee of experts convened this year to designate priority areas for the coming years; it is expected to hand its proposals to the cabinet soon. According to a separate study, Jerusalem could suffer a shortage of accommodations in the future, Haaretz reoprted. The “administrative grants,” as they are known, provide support for 20 percent of the cost of construction of hotels with at least 25 rooms. They provide 10 percent support for construction of other tourist attractions. According to the Israeli daily, a study commissioned by the Tourism Ministry projected shortages of hotel rooms in Jerusalem. Officials at the Tourism Ministry are studying a draft resolution on the subject recommending that the hotel shortage be alleviated via construction of accommodations in the Jewish settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim, just outside Jerusalem, and in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc to the south. The construction of an additional 9,500 hotel rooms should be undertaken as soon as possible, Haaretz said.