The pastoral outposts in the West Bank are not an independent phenomenon occurring in isolation from the state. Rather, they are underpinned by an integrated system that builds infrastructure, paves roads, purchases equipment, establishes security systems, and violently controls hundreds of thousands of dunams of land. Peace Now has revealed that most of the financial resources funding the pastoral outposts come from taxpayers.
During 2023 and 2024, NIS 54 million was allocated from the general budget for the benefit of pastoral outposts. These funds were transferred directly and explicitly through the Ministry of Settlement and the Settlement Division to the settlement regional councils and from there to the pastoral outposts. An additional NIS 10 million has been allocated from the 2025 budget to fund "security measures" for these outposts.
Local settlement authorities receive annual funding of approximately NIS 30 million to support the "State Land Protection" project. This funding is used to pave roads, operate drones, purchase vehicles, build fences, and fund field personnel working to consolidate the seizure of Palestinian land.
The Ministry of Agriculture transfers direct grazing support to pastoral outposts amounting to no less than NIS 1.66 million, in addition to indirect support transferred to organizations recruiting volunteers to support these outposts. This support totaled approximately NIS 20 million between 2019 and 2023.
In addition to managing government funds allocated for "security measures" and transferring them to outposts, the Settlement Division provides outpost owners with grants to develop commercial projects worth no less than NIS 1.65 million, as well as loans, the total value of which is not disclosed.
The Amana movement and the Jewish National Fund also invest millions of shekels in these outposts. While Amana focuses on infrastructure development, the JNF primarily funds volunteers who help operate the pastoral outposts. The state also contributes to supporting these outposts by facilitating fundraising campaigns, recognizing these donations as expenses for tax purposes.
Supported by the Jewish National Fund
The Jewish National Fund was established by a decision of the Zionist Congress in 1901 to purchase land in Palestine and prepare it for Jewish settlement. The fund's annual budget in 2023 amounted to approximately 4.5 billion shekels. The fund's board of directors includes representatives of the Zionist parties in Israel, as well as representatives of Jewish communities worldwide. Since 1967, the fund has played a pivotal role in developing settlements and purchasing land in the occupied territories. The fund finances various projects within the settlements, including the establishment of public parks, tourist trails, roads, the development of water reservoirs and irrigation infrastructure, and the preparation of land for agriculture. It was recently revealed that the fund had resumed land purchases in the West Bank after a period of hiatus.
Documents in Peace Now's possession indicate that the fund likely financed or implemented infrastructure projects for four pastoral outposts: Shirat Ha'askesem, Goshen, Nof Gilad, and Malachi Hashalom. The documents include details on the costs of "developing access roads to pastoral outposts in the Jordan Valley." The total cost is estimated at approximately NIS 2 million. Another document discusses the development of a road to the Givat Eitam farm at an estimated cost of NIS 1.2 million.
In recent years, the Fund has funded vocational rehabilitation and support programs for at-risk youth living in pastoral outposts, some of whom frequently participate in attacks against Palestinians. These funds constitute a primary source of funding for these youths' continued presence in the outposts.