Netivot Mayor Yechiel Zohar has announced his commitment to build hundreds of apartments in the chareidi area of the city. The mayor informed MK Uri Maklev of his plan during a meeting between the two.

Maklev visited the southern city, receiving a tour of various areas as he was escorted by the mayor. Maklev thanked the mayor for his concern and his commitment to the chareidi tzibur. He thanked him for the additional construction as well as the new Ohel Tamar Beis Yaakov Elementary School which is being inaugurated in the coming days.

Maklev and the mayor met along with a senior advisor to the mayor and the head of Ezer Mizion in the city Rav Naftali Kuber and a community representative, Rav Yona Popper. The mayor stressed his commitment to the chareidi tzibur during the meeting, in addition to promising Maklev and the others that he remains committed to the city’s religious status quo. He boasted that while there are non-religious residents in the city, not a single business operates on Shabbos.

Maklev explained that prior to the meeting he visited the chareidi area and he was impressed by the city’s concern for the tzibur and its needs.

The new apartments are in the planning stage along with expansion of public areas and other services for the chareidi tzibur. Mayor Zohar told Maklev that the expansion of Highway 6 to the city will enable one to travel from Netivot to Jerusalem or Bnei Brak in under one hour. He added the building in the city is attractive and he feels Netivot offers frum families an attractive solution for housing.

Maklev inquired as to employment opportunities in the city. The mayor presented a number of solution including a new dairy opening in the city’s industrial area. Maklev asked the mayor to work on providing suitable employment for chareidi women.

The meeting and tour of the area was conducted in a warm atmosphere and MK Maklev thanked his host for the hospitality and all his is doing for the chareidi tzibur.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)