The Israel Parliament today began a debate on the national development budget.
The debate was opened with a lengthy report by Agriculture Minister Levi Eshkol, who disclosed that 263 new agricultural settlements had been established in the three-and-a-half years since the state was established. These settlements house nearly 20,000 families with a total population of 70,000 who work some 1,000,000 dunams (250,000 acres) of land.
In addition, 26 immigrant work villages are in operation, the Minister revealed. He said that the effect of this tremendous expansion in agriculture should be felt within the next few years.
Before the debate began, the deputies passed the first reading of a bill setting minimum and maximum punishments for attacks on the police. The measure resulted directly from the anti-government riots of January 7. Meanwhile, the entire Herut Parliamentary faction, except for its leader, Menahem Beigin, returned to Parliament today after a week’s boycott.
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