Israeli Military Proposes Extending Evacuations in Border Areas Until Dec. 31

The Israeli Defense Ministry has proposed extending the evacuation order for areas bordering the Gaza Strip and Lebanon until December 31, an initiative that could turn out to cost the state billions of shekels, Israeli state-run radio reported on Thursday.

The radio said if the proposition was to receive an approval it would enable the ministry to prolong the evacuation order for people living up to 7 kilometers (11 miles) from Gaza, including the city of Ashkelon, and 5 kilometers from the Lebanese border.

The proposal would also extend the government initiative to fund citizens unwilling or unable to be provided with a room in a government-payed hotel, according to the report.