Sufa Landbar complained: Too many Haredim in Ashdod • Deri: It's impudence to talk like that

July 25, 2016   

The Minister of the Interior and the Minister for the Development of the Negev and Galilee Periphery, Aryeh Deri, together with the Minister of Housing, Yoav Galant, and the ministers of the Housing Cabinet decided, within the framework of the Housing Cabinet, on a plan that will allow the addition of 200,000 housing units for the Haredi public over the next two decades. The Housing Cabinet meeting held on Monday in the government conference hall was attended by Ministers Deri, Galant, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, Absorption Minister Sufa Landver, Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin, and Housing Chief Avigdor Yitzhaki. During the meeting, Minister Deri attacked Absorption Minister Sufa Landver after she protested the large number of Haredim in Ashdod, her city of residence. Minister Deri lashed out at her: "In the 1990s, the State of Israel absorbed over a million immigrants from the Soviet Union and no one protested that they were provided with housing solutions throughout the country. It is impudence to talk about Haredim like that. Everyone deserves housing solutions." The decision made by the cabinet will also allow for the establishment of new Haredi communities in the north and south of the country, and will lead to the marketing of 15,000 housing units and the planning of approximately 20,000 housing units for the Haredi public in the next three years. In addition, new Haredi neighborhoods will also be established, and it will be possible to exploit the potential for expansion of housing for the Haredi public in existing concentrations. Minister Deri: "After a year of the government in office and after many delays, it is good that the housing cabinet is meeting to discuss the severe housing crisis of the Haredi. Anyone who tours Haredi communities and neighborhoods cannot help but be shocked by the housing situation of some Haredi people. "People live in cubicles, in warehouses, in split-up apartments and in great distress. Housing Minister Galant visited most of the places and saw the overcrowding and distress up close. In the next two decades, the Haredi public is expected to grow to twice its current size, to almost 20 percent of Israel's population. "The decision will allow us to provide an important and extensive solution to the Haredi public, which needs quick and appropriate housing solutions. I do not believe that it will be possible to establish a new Haredi city, and therefore the goal should be to expand Haredi settlements and neighborhoods such as Beitar Illit, Modi'in Illit, Tel Zion and more to the maximum possible extent. This will be the desired and long-awaited solution for the Haredi public.".