Tel Aviv Real Estate - August 05, 2005

The decision by Israel's housing ministry on Thursday, 4th August, 2005 regarding the issue of tenders for building 72 housing units in a West Bank Jewish settlement has added fuel to protests from Israeli peace activists. In 2005, the housing ministry has issued tenders for building 235 housing units in settlements, of which many locations belong to high demand areas. Peace activists feel that the government is violating one of the main principles of Palestinian-Israeli peace progress. In contrast, a pro-settler group, the Yesha Council of Settlements is accusing the government for not doing enough for the public and to continue building settlement blocks.

The historic beginning of Tel Aviv, Ahuzat Beit is getting one of its streets remodeled to mark the 100th anniversary of Tel Aviv. The Tel Aviv municipality is remodeling Herzl St., one of the first six streets in Ahuzat Beit. Ahuzat Beit is the area where the first Jews in the area settled outside of Jaffa, and so began Tel Aviv. Work began in July by Ezra & Bizaron Housing Co. Ltd. on the section of Herzl St. between Salame St. and Ahad Ha’am St. The work will include replacement of infrastructure like water, sewage, shrubbery, lighting, and fiber optics. The project also includes the removal of overhead electrical lines, and replacing them with underground lines. The project will cost NIS 12 million and will be undertaken in two stages of which the first stage work began in July. It is scheduled for completion in February 2006. The plan also includes new sidewalks, irrigation system, and asphalt in the street.