Ministers advance bill to expedite rehabilitation of urban areas hit by Iranian missiles

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation approves a government draft law that would establish a committee to oversee the rehabilitation of urban areas damaged by missile strikes during this past summer’s conflict with Iran.

The bill, formulated by a joint team representing the finance, justice and housing ministries, as well as the Israeli Authority for Urban Renewal and Israel Planning Administration, regulates the determination of eligibility of areas and structures affected by the war for urban renewal efforts.

To pass into law, the bill still has to go through a preliminary reading in the Knesset plenum and then three more readings.

“The law offers a comprehensive, tailored and effective mechanism for the restoration of damaged urban spaces, while significantly shortening the timeframe of the urban renewal process, strengthening the role of the local authority in the process, strictly protecting property rights and ensuring an equitable and timely process,” the government says in a statement.

“The law guarantees comprehensive protection for residents’ rights through an unprecedented mechanism, including compensation and restitution options such as a ‘buy-out’ track, where apartment owners can choose between participating in the urban renewal project or receiving an immediate alternative new apartment,” it adds.

In July, the Knesset voted 55-2 to pass the government’s plan to compensate those affected financially by the conflict with Iran into law, including grants for businesses whose income streams were reduced and workers who were furloughed.

Overall, the war caused economic damage of at least NIS 4.5 billion ($1.2 billion), officials said in June.