Israel: New Subsidies Don't Apply to Settlements An Israeli government official says new financial incentives designed to lure Israelis to poorer, outlying areas do not apply to West Bank settlements. A government announcement about the Cabinet decision earlier this week identified some 550 communities that qualified for the subsidies, including 70 West Bank settlements. But later Sunday, a second vote was held to remove the settlements. "The government decision on Sunday does not apply to communities in the West Bank," says spokesman Mark Regev. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday a mistake was made, and "we corrected it immediately." He said any request to subsidize the settlers would need separate government approval.