Comptroller: Minister Ariel allowed close associates ‘to make decisions based on personal interests,’ diverting 43% of the NIS 51 million to well-established cities like Modi’in, Tel Aviv & Raanana, that was earmarked for increased construction to lower housing prices in the Negev and the Galilee.
By Yehonatan Bnaya, Yaron Druckman
Millions of shekels earmarked for developing and bolstering Israel’s geographic and social periphery were instead invested in housing projects in central Israel, State Comptroller Yosef Shapira determined in a report released on Tuesday.
Uri Ariel – Photo: Volcani-Institute
The comptroller, who examined the Construction Ministry’s conduct from 2013-2015 under Minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi), found that Ariel appointed close associates who share his political and ideological interests to key positions in the ministry and allowed them to interfere in the implementation of a government plan to develop the periphery. Continue Reading »
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