Yehuda and Shomron Left Out of Nationwide Housing Program

Yehuda and Shomron were omitted from a longterm rent program to encourage housing, which prompted an allegation of discrimination against the region from Religious Zionism Party chairman MK Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday.

In a discussion in the Knesset Finance Committee, it emerged that all other parts of the country will be able to benefit from the Capital Investment Encouragement Law, which is part of the proposed Arrangements Law, currently on the Knesset agenda, along with the main budget bill.

Although Yehuda and Shomron were left out, a representative of the Justice Ministry told the committee that there is no legal impediment to applying the law there as well.

An indignant Smotrich called for an end to discriminating against the residents of the region.

“So the residents of Araba and Sakhnin and Tel Aviv and Haifa will be entitled to apartments for long-term rent, but the residents of Ma’ale Adumim and Ariel and Beitar Illit will not be entitled and will continue to pay more,” Smotrich charged.

“Again, this is not a legal issue nor a political issue. These are tax benefits to which the residents of Little Israel will be entitled and the residents of Yehuda and Shomron will not be entitled and so will be discriminated against. Shame and disgrace on the right-wing fig leaves of this anti-Zionist left-wing government. Ten degrees to the right,” he added.