Israel Approves Initial Budget for ‘Trump Heights’

Israel’s cabinet has approved an initial $2.5 million budget for the development of “Trump Heights,” named after the US president. The decision to build the new town in the Golan Heights was made shortly after Washington in March 2019 recognized Israeli sovereignty over the portion of the territory the Jewish state captured from Syria during the 1967 war. In June of last year, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu oversaw an elaborate groundbreaking ceremony near the designated site that was attended by high-ranking officials and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. The preliminary plan reportedly allocates about $1 million to the newly established Settlement Affairs Ministry, which has been tasked with setting up a temporary encampment replete with mobile homes. Overall, the construction of Trump Heights, which will eventually be home to some 300 families, is expected to cost about $8 million.