Globes, Shirit Avitan Cohen 22.09.2021
Following the collapse of the building in Holon and the danger of the collapse of additional buildings, the Minister of Construction and Housing, Zeev Elkin, is working to introduce an amendment to the Arrangements Law in the Urban Renewal section that will allow eviction-construction even with the consent of only 51% of tenants. This is an existing section that talks about lowering the required consent threshold for tenants from the current 80% to 66%, which Minister Elkin will seek to lower to 51% in old buildings that are in danger of collapsing. In order for the amended section to pass, Elkin will need the consent of the Knesset and coalition members who will prepare the law for a vote in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Construction and Housing has already begun working on the subject, led by the ministry's director general Aviad Friedman, in an attempt to create cooperation with local authorities to push for more urban renewal projects. On all the buildings built before 1980. The purpose of the ministry in pushing the projects of urban renewal is to address the safety hazard alongside the urban aesthetics and the construction of additional residential apartments.
Minister Elkin was interviewed on Sunday by IDF waves, and when asked about the building that collapsed, he said his goal is to save lives and prevent the next disaster.
State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman, who toured the Holon collapse site, said at the time that "I see great importance in reaching the area for inspection. The issue of dangerous buildings is being examined by us these days. We are witnessing an event that was a step from the death of many people.
"We must not wait for other commissions of inquiry, such as Pal-Kal and deaths. Those involved in the matter must deal with it from now on.
"It is also very important to formulate solutions for the tenants. This is a series of people whose world has been destroyed. These things are before our eyes, and we examine them in the state audit. We will accompany the activities for the tenants until solutions are found."