The National Planning and Building Council approved a decree to enable housing rehabilitation and the return of the residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza to their homes. The plan refers to three areas in the kibbutz: an expansion neighborhood with 55 new housing units, a complex for the younger generation with 60 small housing units, and the reconstruction of 41 destroyed housing units.
By Nadlan Center
The National Planning and Building Council, headed by Natan Elnatan, approved today (Tuesday) a decree to enable the rehabilitation of housing and the return of Kibbutz Kfar Aza residents to their homes by establishing a new residential neighborhood and rehabilitating additional structures through an expedited process in the kibbutz.
The decree was advanced following a request from the Tekuma Directorate to the chairman of the National Council to promote community rehabilitation within short timeframes. The request stated that following the terrorist attack on October 7, the evacuees from Kibbutz Kfar Aza are currently residing in temporary housing in Kibbutz Ruhama and to return to the Kibbutz; there is a need for the rapid establishment of housing and infrastructure for accommodating the members and developing the kibbutz.
The plan refers to three areas in the kibbutz: an expansion neighborhood including 55 new housing units; a complex for the younger generation involving the demolition of existing structures and the construction of 60 new small units; a public building for community needs, a workspace building for shared workspaces, and the placement of 5 portable housing units; throughout the kibbutz – demolition of buildings and reconstruction of 41 destroyed units.
It is worth noting that the Planning Administration worked to amend legislation to enable the rehabilitation of the kibbutz within short timeframes through Amendment 150 to the Planning and Building Law in November 2023, which, among other things, added Section 266v to the law. This section, enacted as a temporary provision for a year, grants the Minister of the Interior the authority, after consultation with the National Council, to exempt from plans and permits for works and uses required to establish complexes that will serve as housing for evacuees displaced from their homes due to the unique security situation, to allow the establishment of housing complexes as quickly as possible.
According to the decree, the work will be carried out by a body operating on behalf of the state after being authorized to do so by a government decision. In this context, it was reported that following the approval of the decree, a request will be submitted to authorize the cooperative association of Kibbutz Kfar Aza as a body operating on behalf of the state for the implementation of this decree.
The plan in Kfar Aza joins the plan to establish a residential neighborhood in Be’eri, which was approved by the National Council in August 2024. The plan allows for the construction of 140 new housing units and supportive infrastructure for the new residential complexes.
Chairman of the National Planning Headquarters and Chairman of the National Planning and Building Council, Natan Elntan: “Since October 8, the National Council has approved a series of plans for rehabilitating the Gaza envelope area. I welcome this important plan that will enable the rehabilitation of the kibbutz within short timeframes and hope for the swift return of the residents to their homes.”
CEO of the Planning Administration, Rafi Elmaliah: “The Planning Administration is working in collaboration with the communities in the Gaza envelope to promote plans for rehabilitating communities affected on October 7 quickly. This is based on the outline determined by the kibbutz residents and the Tekuma Directorate. I sincerely hope for the residents’ speedy return to their homes.”
