Housing Crisis

'Thwarting a Palestinian state'

Planning Committee approves thousands of new homes

The Planning Committee is expected to approve over 5,300 new housing units in Judea and Samaria. Another 500 units will be approved to go on market.

New haredi city expected to reach population of 80,000

Ministers announce: Plans for 'Tila,' a new haredi city in southern Israel, are moving forward.

Housing crisis:

'1.7m in tax on a 100m apartment? A disgrace'

"Israel Land Authority should be dismantled," responds Yisrael Beytenu member to MK Gafni.

Haredi businessman:

No choice but to create haredi communities in mixed cities

'I call on people to buy apartments in the periphery and to live in them,' haredi businessman says.

Which party will solve Israel's housing crisis?

An entrepreneur and college professor says the housing 'bubble' isn't a bubble at all - but a full-blown crisis no one knows how to solve.

Housing Crisis

The youth who offer Tel Avivians a solution to housing crisis

Itamar Yom Tov talks about the booth he runs in Tel Aviv, how construction in Judea and Samaria will solve the housing crisis.

Why do people leave Israel?

Likud MK: It's not Hamas or Hezbollah, it's housing

"Young people are leaving Israel because they can't afford to buy a home, not because of terrorism."

New haredi city will be a 'poverty trap' says commentator

"The Treasury knows the costs outweigh the benefits," argues Chaim Levinson in Haaretz. "What will 100,000 haredim do in the desert?"

'Housing prices aren't coming down any time soon'

Housing Ministry dir-general: Anyone who promises a price drop is lying. Interior Minister: We marketed 100 thousand apartments.

Govt approves new haredi city over haredi objections

Kasif to be built in the Negev, but won't be ready for years. Haredi MKs protest: "We need a solution now, not in 10 years' time."

Airport instead of housing solution in Atarot?

Ofer Berkowitz questions the motives behind freezing of new housing plan in Atarot, suggesting a hidden government agenda may be to blame.

'Arab sector housing crisis is real - but solvable'

Regavim group calls on Arab public 'to adopt urban-style housing solutions, as it has in Nablus, Ramallah, and Hevron.'

Haredi city looks to legalize apartment splits

ln effort to solve housing crisis, Elad mayor holds meeting to discuss allowing existing apartments to be split in two.

Committee approves over 2,000 new housing units in Bnei Brak

Committee approves plan to build more housing units, offices, and open spaces in central haredi city.

Time for another haredi city in Judea and Samaria

Yesha Council Director Shilo Adler presents 'East Dan Bloc' plan, explains it's most appropriate response to housing crisis in Israel.

Israel eyes massive tax cuts

'20% of Israelis pay 80% of taxes,' says Finance Minister, promising to remedy situation with cuts to import, income, and business taxes.

Court: Gov't must respond to haredi claims of discrimination

Haredi parties claim discrimination in subsidized housing, Supreme Court orders government to respond by Thursday.

'Instead of tax on third apartment - subsidy for first one'

Jewish Home MK says tax on third apartment is latest failed attempt to address housing crisis - and he has alternatives.

Gafni: Supreme Court crossed the line

Chairman of Knesset Finance Committee: We are the only nation in the world where the people do not choose the Supreme Court judges.

Israel to bring in thousands of Chinese construction workers

Agreement to bring workers to alleviate housing shortage reached following PM Netanyahu's recent trip to China.

6000 Chinese construction workers to arrive in Israel

Government announces that China has agreed to send 6000 construction workers to Israel to "energise efforts to solve the housing crisis."

Keeping haredi housing projects for the haredim

MK Yaakov Asher says there is a need to ensure that subsidized housing intended for the haredi sector reaches that population..

Finance Minister: We've chosen to stand with the young couples

Moshe Kahlon refuses to back off tax for 3rd apartments; 'Coalition members will have to choose between the top percentile and the young.'

Israeli company creating futuristic way to travel

Watch: Israeli 'Skytran' offers futuristic space pod and say that it can also help solve national housing crisis

Despite campaign promises, housing prices continue to rise

Report reveals failures of Moshe Kahlon and Yair Lapid to lower housing costs.

Minister: Doesn't matter where, just expel terrorists' families

Kulanu head Moshe Kahlon discusses terrorism, the Finance Ministry, the housing crisis and the 'Mikveh bill' with Arutz Sheva.

The solution to Israel's housing problem: Samaria

With 93% of Judea and Samaria unpopulated by either Jew or Arab, the potential exists to solve Israel's housing crisis.

Arabs in Yafo Tell Hamas They'll Fight Housing Plan

Popular council head gives interview to Hamas in which he blasts much needed construction plan as attempt to 'Judaize' city.

Interview

Uri Ariel to Leftists: Bring it On

Housing Minister dismisses criticism over housing, encourages right-wing voters to attend polls and the rally Sunday for a secure Israel.

Herzog: Social Justice Before Defense

Labor leader claims Israel's economy is suffering due to overfocus on defense, vows only to raise defense budget if social needs are met.

Herzog Slams Government Money to 'Settlements'

Labor leaders blame housing crisis solely on Netanyahu, say that under their reign, money would be funneled to fix financial woes.

Lapid: Housing Crisis Caused by Netanyahu

Yesh Atid head urges the public to carefully read the State Comptroller's report on the housing crisis, to be published Wednesday.

Report: ILA Building Plans Could Harm Israel's Water Supply

ILA plans to build 40,000 apartments directly over Israel's most critical underground water source, opponents say.

'Lapid Provided Zero Solutions, Only Newspaper Headlines'

Kulanu head Moshe Kahlon attacks Yair Lapid for housing crisis, calls his tenure as Finance Minister 'risky gamble we're all paying for.'

Bennett Hits Out: Lapid Responsible for Housing Crisis

Jewish Home Chairman criticizes Yair Lapid for housing crisis, says for past two years 'Israel has been held hostage to his whims.'

Kulanu: Lapid is Responsible for the Housing Crisis

Battle of the 'centrists': Lapid blames PM for crisis, thwarting Yesh Atid's attempts to fix it. Kulanu: Lapid isn't taking responsibility.

Moshe Kahlon's New Party to Focus on Cost of Living, Housing

'The concept of 'monopoly' needs to disappear,' former Likud minister states, in remarks over plans for his new political party.

Research Shows Young Couples Struggling to Buy Homes

Prices soar with salaries not meeting the rise, leaving young couples less able to become homeowners amid noted gap in income brackets.

Leftists Livid: 44 Critical Roads Slated for Judea-Samaria

Is the 'covert' building freeze due to be torpedoed entirely? Half of long-standing plan for new roads approved as leftists fume.

Top 10% Make 8.5% More Than Bottom 10%, Numbers Show

Israel's poor are not getting ahead - but they are not falling behind, either, new numbers from the Central Bureau of Statistics show.

Housing Crisis Deepens as Building Remains Frozen

Apartment prices jump 4.4% in second quarter of 2014 - price of new apartments up 13% - as Netanyahu's construction freeze continues.

Conflict Erupts Over Solutions to Housing Crisis

Where to invest - that is the question. Housing and Finance Ministries face off over the better solution to the housing problem.

Arutz Sheva Interview

Minister Uri Ariel Says Israeli Sovereignty is in Danger

Housing minister tells Arutz Sheva about proposed terror deal, 2015 housing price drop; slams collective punishment in Yitzhar.

Leftist Jerusalem Councilman Reports Construction

Meretz councilman Alalu says Israel plans 186 new Jewish housing units in eastern Jerusalem.

Minister Calls for State Discounts for Young Parents

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman pushes VAT exemption for young apartment buyers, IDF vets; also subsidized daycare.

'There is No Chance of a Palestinian State'

Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel says Netanyahu appears to be standing up to US pressure on 'framework for peace.'

Jump in Settlement Building is an Illusion, Says Yesha Council

Yesha Council says statistics showing tremendous growth in Judea, Samaria is simply the result of a building freeze in the previous year.

Initiative: 10% of All Building Projects for Public Housing

Bill to mandate transitionary apartments for families in desperate need of public housing picks up speed, supporters in Knesset.

Housing Crisis Continues: Prices Up by Another 8%

Housing prices rose 8% in 2013. Price hike follows doubling in price over seven previous years.

Youth from Samaria Share Their Fears

Young Israelis from Samaria sit with MKs. Among their questions: after the army, where will I live?

Hareidi Media Attacks Housing Minister For Tenders

Hareidi papers slam Uri Ariel over Judea and Samaria construction plans, saying he's ignoring housing crisis among hareidi public.

Finance Minister: Apartment Price Hike Dooms Next Generation

Finance Minister urges contractors in Monday afternoon speech to work with the government to lower real estate prices.

Jerusalem Hopes for End to ‘Ghost Apartments’

Deputy mayor expresses hope that higher taxes will make overseas owners think twice about leaving Jerusalem homes empty.

Tax On Empty Apartments Doubled by Finance Committee

New rules unanimously approved on roughly 47,000 empty apartments to encourage renting or selling, help solve housing crisis.

Clashes as Immigrants Protest, ‘We’re Stuck in Centers’

Ethiopian immigrants say failure to update grants is leaving many in absorption centers. Nine arrested at protest.

MKs Pledge Further Hareidi-Religious Zionist Cooperation

Housing Minister Uri Ariel and his predecessor, Eli Yishai, pledge continued cooperation over housing.

Ariel: Chinese Workers Could Help Solve Housing Crisis

Housing Minister Uri Ariel said that Israel would once again admit large numbers of Chinese building workers - if China were willing.

Housing Minister Reveals Emergency Cost-Lowering Plan

Housing Minister Uri Ariel commits to lowering prices by 2014, reveals ‘evict and build’ scheme.

Yesha Housing Starts More Than Double in First Half of 2013

Housing starts sank during the first half of 2012 in most areas of Israel – but they were way up in Judea and Samaria

Jerusalem Construction ‘a Drop in the Ocean’

City representative welcomes 200 new housing units, but says, ‘I would be happy if it were 8,000.’