Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the affordable housing criteria approved by the Israel Land Administration today do not discriminate against working couples.
He told the Likud Knesset faction today, "I requested changes in the criteria for the housing program to enable young couples to fulfill their dream and buy an apartment. There are those who charge that the plan discriminates against young couples where both partners are working. That's not true. Two thirds of the apartments are targeted at working couples. The other third is targeted at the disadvantaged."
He added, "The most important thing is where the apartments are being built. That determines more than anything else who gets the apartments. Therefore, I've set up a committee to ensure that the distribution of homes is fair. I was pleased to hear that Prof. Trajtenberg has welcomed this."
However, Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman says he opposes the new criteria. He said, "When I think of Trajtenberg and look at our agreements with the ministry of finance I see two things: military service and ability to earn a wage. Our message is that we want to see a list of priorities for those who serve in the army, do reserve duty, and it is not possible to take the ability to earn a wage out of the list of priorities that Israel Beitenu wants to see. We had a clear agreement between us and we expect to see it implemented."
Published by Globes, Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 30, 2012
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