Israel’s government approves funding for Trump Heights settlement

Israel's government approved June 14 $2.3 million in funding for the construction of a settlement in the Golan Heights named after US President Donald Trump. Part of the budget will be used by the Housing Ministry for planning, and the rest by the World Zionist Organization for building temporary structures. The next step after the Cabinet’s decision would be marketing land plots for construction.

Speaking at the beginning of the Cabinet’s weekly session, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Today, we will begin practical steps in establishing the community of Ramat Trump [Trump Heights] in the Golan Heights, Israel’s sovereignty over which was recognized by President Trump." A statement issued by the Cabinet after the meeting noted, "The initiative to establish a new Golan Heights settlement to be named after President Donald Trump expresses gratitude for his work for the State of Israel and the Golan Heights."

The future Golan Heights village, located near Kela Alon in the western Golan Heights, will be developed on lands belonging to the small Bruchim settlement. Constructed in 1991, the hamlet Bruchim did not succeed in attracting many families. In fact, most of its original inhabitants left over the years. The government now hopes that rebranding the locality will bring new residents.

Welcoming Netanyahu at the White House shortly before the March 2019 elections in Israel, Trump recognized Israel’s 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights. With the Israeli prime minister by his side, Trump signed a proclamation granting US recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory — a dramatic shift from decades of US policy.