Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Illegal Construction

I have tried to explain the situation in Israel where construction actions are taken in line with reality but the approvals and licencing procedures are slow to catch up.

Usually, the construction activity out here in Yesha is in the limelight.

But I found this:

the cemetery, called Menuha Mehubedet (Hebrew for "dignified rest"), is running out of land and has built a 33-meter-long, four-level hillside structure for burial. But the structure was built without a permit, and is now under a demolition order.

Do you really think that it will be demolished or that ex post facto, official recognition will be granted?

Oh, the cemetery is in Kibbutz Givat Brenner.

A secular project, a socialist icon for location.

It's just a matter of how long it'll take to smooth bureaucratic problems.

Take note:

Before the demolition order was issued, the authorities turned a blind eye to the unlicensed burial structure and acted as if its approval was a mere formality, Abir said. The cemetery submitted an application to the courts to stay the demolition, but the order remains in place.

When Menuha Mehubedet built the disputed structure into a hillside, with space for 160 burials, it did not apply for a permit, confirmed Abir. He said the building was built on agricultural land, and the plan to rezone it has not yet been approved.

The plan, which includes a new road to reach the site and the industrial zone next to it, has been stuck in the planning committees for eight years now...Despite these objections and the committee's demand that the law be enforced, no steps were taken against the cemetery and two previously constructed multi-level burial structures...

On Sunday, the district committee discussed the issue again. The minutes have not yet been published, but Ofer says it approved the plan. However, the Interior Ministry says the plan has still not been approved and must be reviewed by legal experts.

Will Peace Now ask for criminal charges to be brought?

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1 comment:

NormanF said...

Interesting.

Is that why Yariv Oppenheimer and Hagit Ofran wasted so much money to move a revanant 2 kms from its current location?

If they wanted to deal a blow to the Yesha enterprise, it was a spectacularly inept effort.

The good news is while stupidity may be a meme in Israel, it usually don't result in any serious long term harm.

One may argue if Israel had the efficiency of Prussia, things would get done. On second thought as Medad reported here, he makes a good case as to why they ought to be left well enough alone.