Housing Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel on Wednesday, 3 Menachem Av 5773 presented his plan to alleviate the nationwide housing shortage � �massive building in Yehuda and Shomron�.

Ariel stated during a session of the Knesset Finance Committee that �in order to alleviate the crisis, we must begin massive construction in settlement blocs in Yehuda and Shomron and Yerushalayim�.

�Yishuvim like Beit Aryeh, Ofarim, and Elkana are in the center of the country and we are ready to push 10,000 housing units in the immediate future� he added.

Meretz party leader MK Zahava Gal-On was quick to respond, attacking Ariel�s plan. �Now you have found an economic reason and not just a political one to continue building in settlements. To my sorrow this government has many ways to speed up construction in the yishuvim.�

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)