The Central Bureau of Statistics reported today that despite Israel\'s economic slowdown, 10,460 new high-rise apartments were sold in the first eight months of 2001, up 11% from the same period last year. On the other hand, housing starts under the build-your-own-house plan amounted to only 7,290 during this period, a steep 18% decline. Some 55% of the new apartments sold since the beginning of the year were low-cost four-room apartments. Almost 40% of the new apartments were sold in Israel\'s central region. A surprising 507 new apartments were sold in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, despite the ongoing difficulties in those areas.