MK Sitruk: "Hitting Haredim - even at the harm to the public"

"There is a trend to hit the Haredim – and it doesn’t matter if it is offensive to the general public," protested MK Orit Sitruk from Habayit Hayehudi.

The statement was made during a discussion on housing grants in the periphery, at the Knesset State Control Committee.

Committee chairman MK Amnon Cohen (Shas) raised a debate on the cancellation of grants and said that lawsuits by citizens, on the violation of the governmental promise will costs the state in the end much more than the grants themselves. Cohen stressed that the Treasury did not like the decision of the grant in the first place, and saw the establishment of the new government a chance to cancel it.

MK Itzik Shmuli (Avodah) stated that cancellation of grant ruins for young couples their plan to build a house in the periphery. MK Israel Eichler (Yahadut Hatorah) said that the grants resulted in an increase of 71% in construction in the periphery, and "cancellation of the grant is intended to harm the Haredim - and now includes most young couples who are not Haredim, suffering from that.

MK Orit Sitruk (Habayit Hayehudi) joined and emphasized that "there is a trend to hit the Haredim - day care centers, dental reform and housing grants - no matter that by do so they harm the general public."

Housing Minister Uri Ariel admitted that "there is no doubt that some of the decisions of the government do not do well with the housing market. We are in need of massive marketing apartments across the country and the pressure of everyone can certainly benefit."

He said he met by his initiative with members of the Knesset from all factions, responsive to requests and distress and that "housing prices struggle is a struggle for all of us." Ariel warned not to allow the contractor company to take advantage of discounts, at the expense of the citizen - and sell the apartments at higher prices."

Ariel Yozar, representative of the Ministry of Finance said that "The grants can also have negative effects on the housing market and cause to raise prices. Whether the goal is to encourage migration to the periphery, we must check out how much construction was in these areas. Not only was there an increase but there was a decline in the housing starts. Probably grants were given to those who in any case were prepared to move to the periphery.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!