More than two years have passed since the chareidi housing crisis was at the top of the agenda of chareidi parties in Knesset, and 663 days have passed since Shas chairman Aryeh Deri announced the housing issue was a major priority for the chareidi sector in the chareidi city of Shafir in the south.

The one who raised the painful issue was MK Yaakov Asher, who appealed urgently to Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, demanding that he pull it together and towards moving the project ahead, which he said will help towards resolving the housing shortage in the chareidi sector.

At the beginning of the letter, which was received by BeChadrei Chareidim, Asher informed Kahlon of the initiative led by Deri, together with former housing chief Avigdor Yitzchaki. “It was agreed that the outline plan for the Kiryat Gat West plan within the Shafir Regional Council would be marketed for the chareidi population, which requires a different planning that takes into account the nature of community life, public buildings, educational institutions, accessible public transport services, and more.”

Asher adds, “Since this declaration, it has been decided that the Israel Land Authority will lead the promotion of the plan, and indeed the Israel Land Authority has begun preliminary work in the compound, which is part of the conditions for marketing the land. Unfortunately, this is the only thing that has been promoted and there has been no progress in adapting the urban master plan to the characteristics of chareidi housing, an adjustment that can be made at the same time,” Asher notes.

“In addition to the statements made at the time that marketing is intended for chareidi residents, a formal decision is required that the above-mentioned compound is intended for residential purposes,” said MK Asher. “Unfortunately, to date, no such decision has been made, by the government of Israel Lands Administration, and in any case nothing progresses in adapting the urban building plan to this segment of the public.”

Asher continues to remind Kahlon of the severity of the chareidi sector housing shortage and the need for immediate action towards alleviating it, calling on Kahlon to immediately convene the relevant government officials towards kick-starting the project.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)