**Title: Israeli Government to Provide Funding for Hilltop Youth Settlers**
In a controversial move, the Israeli government has reportedly unveiled a plan to allocate approximately 5.5 million shekels (around $1.9 million) in state funding to members of the extremist settler group known as Hilltop Youth. This funding is intended to provide monthly stipends to the group’s members, which will cover essential living expenses such as food and clothing.
The Hilltop Youth, established in the late 1990s, operates primarily in the West Bank and is known for maintaining a network of illegal outposts in the occupied Palestinian territories. Over the years, the group has been implicated in numerous violent incidents against Palestinians, including acts of arson and murder, often without facing significant legal repercussions. The group, which is estimated to have fewer than 1,000 active members, has been designated as an extremist entity and has faced sanctions from both the European Union and the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control since 2024.
According to a report by Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli government’s plan aims to support over 650 youths residing in hilltop outposts across the West Bank. Each eligible member of the Hilltop Youth is expected to receive around $550 per month starting in June. The program is set to continue until the end of the year, with nearly $2 million earmarked for this initiative.
This funding initiative is part of a larger program valued at approximately 120 million shekels (about $41.3 million), which seeks to address the rising violence against Palestinians attributed to settler activities. The broader program includes educational initiatives and social work, with efforts to mediate relationships between the Hilltop Youth and local authorities, as well as promoting military conscription among the youth.
The Hilltop Youth movement is largely composed of Israeli settlers aged between 16 and 26, many of whom choose to abandon their education or employment to live in outposts that overlook Palestinian communities. Reports indicate that these settlers often engage in harassment of local residents, contributing to escalating tensions in the region.
The decision to fund the Hilltop Youth comes amidst a backdrop of increasing violence in the West Bank, particularly following the October 2023 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, which has led to a significant escalation of conflict in Gaza and heightened tensions in the occupied territories.
As the Israeli government moves forward with this funding plan, it is likely to draw criticism from various quarters, including human rights organizations and Palestinian advocates, who argue that such support for extremist groups exacerbates the ongoing conflict and undermines efforts for peace in the region.