image sourced from original article at The Knesset has advanced a bill that would add a representative from the ultra-Orthodox community to the National Committee for Planning and Construction of Preferred Areas. The proposed legislation, introduced by United Torah Judaism lawmaker Yaakov Asher, aims to address the specific needs of the Haredi population in large-scale residential planning, such as sukkah balconies and additional public spaces for religious and educational purposes.
Supporters argue that a Haredi representative is necessary to ensure the community's unique requirements are met in new housing developments. However, the proposal has faced criticism from opposition figures, who claim it reflects broader issues of exclusion and division within Israeli society. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid warned that such measures contribute to a sense of abandonment among other segments of the population, referencing ongoing debates over military conscription and recent data on emigration of academics.
The bill passed its preliminary reading with a vote of 50 to 37 and will proceed to further legislative stages.
