Tens of families anxiously awaiting the keys to their apartments in Betar Illit are not receiving them from the contractor. They expected to enter their apartments about two months ago but there are delays. City officials explain the contractor has not received the necessary permits to hand over the keys because of building violations. The contractor blames City Hall for the delay and the owners are stuck in the middle, unable to take possession of their new apartments.

Kikar Shabbos News adds that two months ago, prior to the beginning of this latest episode, some of the tenants reported the apartments were ready for a half year yet they cannot enter since the occupancy permit had not been issued. City Hall insists contractor Chaim Zakan veered from the building code and some of the violations address ‘Taba’ regulations and the city lacks the authorization to approve them. The owners will have to submit a modified building plan and hope to have it approved retroactively. This was done by Zakan about two weeks ago, as the owners grow increasingly impatient. In meetings with Zakan, tenants report they were told Betar City Hall is holding them up and city officials have the authority to permit them to receive the keys. He blames Mayor Meir Rubinstein and the city’s chief engineer.

Once again the city denies culpability, insisting the fault lies in the building violations and the approval must come from a national agency that oversees the ‘Taba’ regulations. In the interim, the owners continue paying rent and a mortgage, understandably frustrated and angered as they are caught in the middle and unable to take possession of their new apartments.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)