Israel Matzav

Housing freeze in Jerusalem?

If this story sounds like deja vu all over again, it's because it is. In January 2010, Housing Minister Ariel Attias (Shas) told us that the Netanyahu government had instituted a de facto building freeze in 'east' Jerusalem (really east, north and south). And now, in April 2011, it has happened again. There is a de facto building freeze in Jerusalem.

In an interview with the Mishpacha (Family) newspaper, Minister Attias stated, “The facts are correct, and to my great sorrow, I do not see any substantial changes.”

The Housing Minister said that he cannot market the new housing units, which he said have passed the necessary bureaucratic approvals, because the government has not allowed tenders to be issued for contractors.

Mishpacha added, “The office of the Prime Minister said that the American government has not agreed to new construction but added that this has been the American position for 40 years. Except for 238 units, there is no new building” for Jews in eastern, southern and northern Jerusalem areas restored to Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967.

Publicly, Prime Minister has stated several times that there is no freeze on building new homes for Jews in all of Jerusalem. Mark Regev, spokesman for Prime Minister Netanyahu, told Israel National News Sunday morning that he has not seen the report in Mishpacha but that stated, "There never has been a freeze on building in Jerusalem."

Minister Attias said that that following last year’s announcement by Jerusalem of new construction – at the same U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Israel – Prime Minister Netanyahu promised President Obama President Obama the incident would not be repeated and promised to halt new building.

Last December, Attias said in the Knesset that there are thousands of housing units awaiting sale in Jerusalem but that none have been marketed since December. Last month, he stated that there was a shortage of at least 6,000 homes and apartments in Jerusalem.

There is a severe housing crisis in Jerusalem - that is indisputable. In Judea and Samaria, we know why there is no construction - Ehud Barak. But in Jerusalem, there is no such excuse. If Attias is correct, one would hope that the cabinet - especially the Likud members who are to Netanyahu's right on this issue (most of them) - would take action.

But don't hold your breaths. Netanyahu has managed to put us in a situation where the World condemns us day in and day out for building everywhere - and we are building nowhere.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Ariel Atias, Binyamin Netanyahu, Jerusalem construction

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:16 AM