Number of Israeli settlers increased by 6% in 2004

A statistics issued by the population census office in the Israeli ministry of the Interior yesterday said that number of the settlers of the West Bank and Gaza increased at a rate of 6% during 2004.

The census explained that the number of population of the settlements during 2004 reached more than 250,000, against 236.000 in 2003.

The census indicated that Gaza sector, in particular, witnessed an increase in the number of settlers at a rate of 11% and their number reached 8693 persons living in 17 settlements for 7820 settlers in 2003.

The census indicated that the largest population increase took place in Ghoushe Katif settlements during the second half of 2004 came following the announcement of the plan for separation for the first time in July 2004, in addition to population increase in four settlements in the West Bank which also falls in the course of the plan.