Israeli Parliament Advances Compensation Law for South Tel Aviv's Kfar Shalem Residents
After years of delays and disputes over the evacuation of the Kfar Shalem neighborhood in southern Tel Aviv, the Knesset's Interior and Environmental Protection Committee, chaired by MK Itzhak Kroizer (Otzma Yehudit), approved in a preliminary reading a bill to regulate evacuation and compensation for residents. The bill, initiated by MK Keti Katrin Shitrit (Likud), aims to secure the rights of Kfar Shalem residents required to vacate their homes as part of the evacuation process.
The proposed legislation establishes a clear mechanism for compensation, property rights, and rental assistance for eligible residents, embedding these rights in law. It stipulates that no eligible resident can be evacuated without guaranteed compensation, which can be provided through one of two tracks: a "build your own home" option granting financial compensation and land rights within the area for constructing a residence, or a free-market evacuation track offering financial compensation to purchase housing outside the neighborhood.
The law mandates that the Finance Minister and the Minister of Construction and Housing, with committee approval, define eligibility criteria, including residency before April 1, 1987, and factors such as family ties, property type, location, and household size. It also covers compensation for businesses, livestock, and other property types beyond residential homes. Compensation funds will be managed as a "closed financial system," ensuring expenses do not exceed revenues from land sales in the area.
Initial regulations for implementing the law must be submitted to the committee within six months of enactment. Despite some opposition to specific provisions during the discussion, Kroizer assured that all objections would be thoroughly reviewed before the second and third readings. MK Ofer Cassif praised the bill's approval, calling it a significant cross-party effort that finally provides fair solutions to residents after many years of struggle.
