By an 8-7 vote, the Knesset Finance Committee today approved NIS 123 million in the Ministry of Housing and Construction budget for construction in Jewish communities in the territories. The allocation included NIS 30 million for industrial construction and NIS 93 million for infrastructures in areas of high national priority.
The coalition marshaled its forces for the vote, after Ministry of Housing and Construction director-general Avi Maoz appeared before the committee to explain what the money would be spent on.
Maoz explained that some of the allocation would be designated for construction of 136 housing units. The table provided for the committee indicated, however, that 98 of these units would be built in the territories, and only 38 within the Green Line.
The Likud replaced most of its representatives on the committee, but the coalition did not unanimously support the allocation. The Shinui representatives split their vote, with MK Ehud Rassabi abstaining, and MK Meli Polishook-Bloch voting against, despite the explanations. The coalition triumphed by a one-vote margin, thanks to the unexplained absence of MK Yakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism).
MK Yitzhak Herzog (Labor), who leads the opposition on the committee, said the decision was “scandalous”.
Published by Globes [online] -l www.globes.co.il - on October 27, 2003