Netanyahu Skips Sderot Housing Deal Ceremony Due to Election Ban

A ceremony to launch a major housing development agreement in Sderot, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other politicians were scheduled to attend, was canceled at the last minute. The cancellation was due to a prohibition on holding political rallies and ceremonies before elections. The Ministry of Housing announced the cancellation on Tuesday, despite organizers stating that arrangements had been made in advance. The event was intended to celebrate a "roof agreement" that includes the construction of over 7,000 housing units in new neighborhoods in Sderot over the coming years, with an allocated budget of 4 billion shekels. The plan aims to attract thousands of new families to the city. According to one organizer, the Ministry of Justice initially prohibited the ceremony and then passed the decision to the Ministry of Housing, which subsequently informed the Sderot Municipality. In addition to Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Ministers Haim Katz and Ze'ev Elkin were expected to attend.