New Ultra-Orthodox City Recommended Over Existing Projects
A government-appointed team, led by Ministry of Housing Director General Yehuda Morgenstern, has recommended prioritizing the immediate establishment of a new ultra-Orthodox city named Pelugot, located west of Kiryat Gat and Highway 40 in the Shapir Regional Council. The proposed city is planned to accommodate approximately 225,000 residents in around 45,000 housing units.
This recommendation places Pelugot ahead of two other government-backed ultra-Orthodox cities, Kasif (officially Menorah in the South) and Tila, where tens of millions of shekels have already been invested. Kasif, near Yeruham and Arad, has received at least 22 million shekels and is in advanced planning stages. Tila, north of Lehavim, is in initial planning with about 7 million shekels invested.
The report reveals a dispute between Religious Zionism ministers Orit Strock and Bezalel Smotrich, whose Ministry of Settlement had advocated for developing all three cities simultaneously for political and settlement reasons, aiming to bolster Jewish presence in the Negev. The Treasury, however, expressed reservations, citing the high cost of infrastructure for remote cities, estimated at over a billion shekels, and concerns about their fiscal viability without government grants. The report also notes that Tila's building potential is significantly lower than initially projected.
Pelugot's advantages include its proximity to Kiryat Gat and major transportation routes, offering accessibility to employment and reducing infrastructure costs. Additionally, 22% of its designated area is allocated for offices, logistics, and commerce. The team's recommendation stems from the need to address the housing demands of the ultra-Orthodox community, estimated at 12,000 units annually, as established cities like Bnei Brak and Modi'in Illit have limited expansion potential due to land scarcity and difficulties with urban renewal projects, partly caused by religious halachic rulings and a lack of public spaces.
The team acknowledged that establishing new ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods in secular cities is problematic due to social conflicts and resistance from existing municipalities. While not dismissing these other solutions, the report emphasizes their limited capacity for large-scale housing development, reinforcing the recommendation to proceed with Pelugot as a distinct entity from Kiryat Gat, with secondary priority given to Tila and Kasif.
