The government is reviving the establishment of the new ultra-Orthodox city of Kasif, near Arad, as part of the plan to approve new settlements in peripheral cities.
The goal, among other things, is to prevent the expansion and doubling of Kiryat Gat to the ultra-Orthodox, as it seems.
This is a joint program for the Ministers of the Interior and Housing, Ayelet Shaked and Zeev Elkin, which will probably be presented as part of the planned new cities.
Kasif is an ultra-Orthodox city that is planned to be built on an area of 4,750 dunams near Tel Arad in the Negev and is intended to house about 10,000 housing units, about 50,000 residents from the ultra-Orthodox sector.
Since 2007, tens of millions have been invested in its establishment, and it was the Minister of Housing, Yaakov Litzman, who decided a year ago to archive it.
A new Arab city is also planned, but in order to prevent political riots, it was decided to expand the city of Jadida Makar in the Western Galilee to city dimensions.
As stated, this is not about establishing a new settlement.
But Dina is legally a city.
Thanks to the large amount of state land in the program, it will cater to thousands of families and young couples locally.
The plan, initiated by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, is spread over about 4,000 dunams and proposes the construction of about 8,000 housing units in types of construction, including small apartments and sheltered housing, in order to address a diverse population and the changing needs of the community.
In the center of the new residential complex, a main urban boulevard will be built, which will include an active facade with commerce and offices, and above it, residential houses up to a height of 7 floors.
In connection with the existing settlement, the plan offers residential construction on private land that gradually connects the existing old settlement with the new and urban construction.
In addition to the housing units, the plan proposes the establishment of a main urban center (MAR) that includes the establishment of an urban market, as well as a new municipal structure.
The plan includes areas for public needs for the residents of the new neighborhood, in addition to the allocation of areas for all-regional public buildings, including a cultural center and an emergency services center.
In the western part of the plan, an industrial area is proposed that will enable the promotion and expansion of existing businesses in the complex today, along with the establishment of new businesses that will strengthen the economic resilience of the locality.
As part of the program, there was extensive public participation led by the local council.
Thus, the information gathered in the early stages of promoting the plan, becomes a planning product even before the plan is deposited, all while maintaining high standards of planning quality.
In addition, the plan is also offered on state lands so that the housing crisis can be addressed even for young and landless couples.