The State Comptroller's report published yesterday (Tuesday) dealt extensively with the housing sector, pointing to a significant non-compliance with the goals of the government and its entities in the field of construction and planning.
According to the report, there is a huge shortage of residential housing units in Israel, while the demand is increasing.
In addition, the State Comptroller's report also places a spotlight on the huge gaps in the field of construction for the ultra-Orthodox population in particular.
The comptroller's report shows that the ultra-Orthodox sector has been suffering from an acute housing crisis for years, which continues to worsen in recent years due to the government's lack of resources for decades in regards to planning and construction for the ultra-Orthodox sector - when the accelerated rate of growth in ultra-Orthodox society, which stands at 4% per year, does not help.
Minister of Construction and Housing, Yitzhak Goldknopf (Photo: Reuven Castro)
To this, the Minister of Construction and Housing, Yitzhak Goldknopf, responds, "The auditor proves that, unfortunately, the previous government acted deliberately to harm everything related to housing for the ultra-Orthodox population. From the day I took office, I have worked tirelessly to promote land planning and marketing also for the ultra-Orthodox public to the extent that it would meet their housing needs. This was reflected in the tender for the marketing of 5,300 housing units in Kiryat Gat about two weeks ago, and new neighborhoods in Nof HaGalil and Beitar Ilit, along with the establishment of the new settlement of Yatir - all this in just four months." "In addition, the Ministry of Housing is currently working on preparing a new strategic
plan for the ultra-Orthodox population in order to thicken existing ultra-orthodox cities alongside the establishment of designated neighborhoods in heterogeneous cities.
At the same time, the possibility
of establishing a new ultra-Orthodox city
, apart from Kasif, which is also intended for the ultra-Orthodox sector, is being examined.
The purpose for which I entered the Ministry of Housing,
"In regards to the marketing of residential land," continues Goldknopf, "in the past two years, the number of housing units that were marketed was above the annual target, and my stated goal is to further increase the supply in the coming years. In the coming weeks, I will present a comprehensive housing plan, which we worked on together with the professional ranks of the Ministry of Housing in order to bring
about
this that young couples, regardless of religion, race and gender, will be able to purchase a decent apartment at a reasonable price, and for that, the cooperation of all the relevant government ministries is required."
Real estate
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