Knesset Passes Housing Bill, Over Demonstrators’ Objections

By Haaretz August 3, 2011

The Knesset passed a controversial housing bill on Wednesday, despite the objections of housing protest leaders.

The bill, which will slash red tape for construction by setting up national committees to approve new housing projects, was passed by a vote of 57 to 47. Netanyahu has strongly promoted the bill as the solution to the housing crisis.

Hundreds of protesters blocked major roads in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be?er Sheva on Wednesday to protest the bill.

For more, see Haaretz.com

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO