Birka, in the region of Nablus. That brings the total number of settlements established by the occupying authorities in the Arab territories during the period from 1967 to 1982 to 182. It should be recalled that, at the end of 1982, the Israeli authorities decided to carry out large-scale settlement projects, unprecedented in the Arab occupied territories, during 1983. In particular, they decided to embark on the establishment of 35 new settlements in diverse lo­ calities in the occupied Arab territories, and those settlements are to comprise-22,500 residential units, at a cost of 4.5 billion shekels. Must of these settlements are to be concentrated in the northern part of the occupied West Bank. Intensification of settlement ancl its c,m.1·eq11em·1·s Israeli settlement officials have revealed that the Finance Com­ mittee of the Knesset has approved an increase in the budgetary appropriations of the Israeli Government for the promotion of set­ tlement to an estimated 450 million shekels. It should be noted that, in 1982, the budget for settlement in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip totalled only 3.1 million shekels. AREAS CON Ff SCA.I ED BY ·1 IIE )SRAELI AU.I IIORI I 11·.S DURING ·1 IIE LAS.I QUARIER OF )982 AI-Khader/Ramallah Alar/Tulkarm ......... . Nablus .............. . Anata/Jerusalem ...... . Dirastia/Tulkarm ..... . Burin/Nablus ......... . TOJAL AT<'a ,~f nn~/i.\ca1,·d land fin dmmm.,1 500 200 3 800 800 I 500 2 800 9 600 (Jh,an1tion., For the future establishment of five settlements The main thrust of settlement operations is now being directed towards the northern regions of the West Bank. whereas the cancer of Israeli settlement has hitherto been spread over the southern and eastern regions of the West Bank. where it has taken th~ form of the encirclement of Arab towns and villages and settlement inside 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the Israeli government's plans to establish new settlements in the Arab-occupied territories, specifically in the West Bank. The focus is on the economic and financial aspects of these settlements, including the budgetary appropriations and the number of residential units. The text also mentions the geographical spread of the settlements and their impact on the Arab towns and villages. Based on this information, it is likely that the category that best fits this text is related to economic development or humanitarian aid and relief.

**Category**
Economic development, Humanitarian aid and relief