Kibbutz Expansion Plan Backfires, Critics Say
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Kibbutz representatives are criticizing a government plan designed to increase housing density and growth in kibbutzim, arguing that subsequent regulations have made it unworkable. Michi Drori, from the Kibbutz Movement, stated the plan's rigidity prevents tailored development. The Planning Administration defended the plan's goals but noted limitations on individual customization. The amendment is currently facing objections, with kibbutz leaders calling it a bureaucratic obstacle.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Kibbutz representatives claim a government plan for expansion has become unworkable due to rigid regulations.
- Michi Drori stated the plan's inflexibility prevents kibbutzim from developing according to their unique needs.
- The Planning Administration defended the plan's goals but noted limitations on individual kibbutz planning.
- Kibbutz leaders described the amendment as a rigid, bureaucratic tool hindering development.
- The expansion plan is currently in the objections phase, with kibbutzim seeking changes.
A recent amendment to Israel's National Outline Plan (TAMA 35), intended to facilitate growth and increased density in kibbutzim, is now being criticized by kibbutz representatives as counterproductive. Michi Drori, Director of the Legal Department at the Kibbutz Movement, stated at a conference that while kibbutzim agreed to the plan's goals of expansion and diversification, the state's subsequent regulations are hindering its implementation. Drori argued that the plan's rigidity prevents individual kibbutzim from tailoring development to their unique character, turning a potential benefit into a burden.
During a panel discussion hosted by Globes, Drori, alongside Rafi Elmaliach, Director General of the Planning Administration, and others, debated the amendment's impact. Elmaliach defended the plan, asserting it promotes the desired growth and density but cautioned that the state cannot accommodate every kibbutz's specific planning desires, emphasizing the need for national-level planning for housing security and environmental preservation. He noted that the state is in a constant negotiation regarding how much density is acceptable.
Lior Simcha, Secretary General of the Kibbutz Movement, and Sarah Avron, CEO of Kibbutz Dati, echoed Drori's sentiments in a letter, describing the amendment as having transformed from a beneficial initiative into a rigid, bureaucratic tool that could freeze kibbutz development. They pointed to specific issues, such as arbitrary limits on land allocation and the counting of small units, which they argue undermine the plan's original intent. The amendment is currently in the objections phase.
Architect Idit Shechnai Ran suggested that the amendment presents an opportunity for kibbutzim to innovate their social and architectural models, referencing historical kibbutz planning as a unique blend of urban and rural. However, she stressed that decisions about kibbutz size and density are fundamentally social and value-based, not purely technical, and should be determined by the kibbutzim themselves. Tomer Greenshpon from Discount Bank assured that the bank remains committed to financing kibbutz construction despite market uncertainties, positioning the bank as an enabler of development.