Premier Yitzhak Rabin announced at today’s Cabinet meeting that work on the new Maale Adumim industrial zone along the Jerusalem-Jericho road on the West Bank will continue on schedule despite mounting opposition in some quarters. Rabin said that the Israel Lands Authority, which requested IL 10 million last week to complete work on the infrastructure of the projected complex of industrial plants and workers’ housing, would remain in charge until the end of the present fiscal year, March 31. After that, responsibility will be vested in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The Cabinet voted by a substantial majority in favor of Rabin’s request not to hold a full-scale debate on the project which was originally approved by the Cabinet on Nov. 24, 1974. Opponents, mainly from left-wing factions, have charged that the Maale Adumim project was primarily a political scheme to mollify right-wing nationalist elements by further entrenching Israel on the West Bank. Some sources have argued that the sums allocated for Maale Adumim would be better spent on factories in Galilee where jobs have become scarce.
KOLLEK FAVORS ANATOT
Information Minister Aharon Yariv insisted today that no projected developments in the north or anywhere else in Israel have been affected by the Maale Adumim project. Opposition developed from an unexpected quarter today when Jerusalem’s Mayor Teddy Kollek suggested that the industrial development of the capital’s northern suburb, Anatot, should take precedence over Maale Adumim.
Municipal sources explained later that the Mayor favored Maale Adumim in principle but thought Anatot should come first. Kollek also said he feared additional traffic congestion in Jerusalem unless a new arterial road was built to the West Bank project.
Although the Cabinet did not discuss detailed budgetary allocations, officials said that IL 10 million has been earmarked in the Commerce Ministry’s 1975-76 budget for the infrastructural work. The Housing Ministry will be responsible for building homes for workers who will be employed in the Maale Adumim factories.
QUESTION EXCESS OVER APPROVED BUDGET
Last week, Labor MKs Yossi Sarid and Eliezer Ronen questioned Finance Minister Yehoshua Rabinowitz on reports that work on Maale Adumim exceeded the approved budget. Meir Payil of the Moked faction asked for an urgent Knesset debate on the issue. It was learned at the same time that Jewish Agency treasurer Leon Dulzin had promised the Lands Authority an IL 1.5 million short-term loan on condition that it was guaranteed by the government.
Pinhas Sapir, chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive, said he was not aware of Dulzin’s offer until a few days ago because he was out of the country. He told reporters he would make his views clear on the subject in a few days.
The Jewish National Fund is currently carrying out preliminary work at Maale Adumim as contractor for the Lands Authority. It has completed leveling work for an access road to a 500 dunam area designated as an industrial Site. According to the Lands Authority, the estimated cost of the JNF’s work is IL 200,000. Opponents of the project claim that the Treasury had allocated only IL 100,000 for infrastructural work.
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