Minister of the Interior Meir Sheetrit yesterday unveiled a list of 27 merged municipalities, including local and regional councils, which could be formed. Sheetrit's proposal will be submitted next week to a committee, which will look at the proposed mergers and report back to the interior minister.
"We want to create larger, stronger cities," said Sheetrit yesterday. "There are some places where one can hardly tell the difference between one town and another. The ideal time to move this forward is now, before the upcoming municipal authority elections, so that candidates for local government positions can stand for election to the newly merged authorities."
The proposed mergers include, Kiryat Bialik - Kiryat Motzkin; Kiryat Yam - Kiryat Haim; Ramat Gan - Givatayim; Kiryat Ono - Ganei Tikva; Bat Yam - Holon; Rehovot - Ness Ziona; Kfar Saba - Hod Hasharon; Herzilya - Ramat Hasharon - Kfar Shmaryahu; Kfar Bara - Kafr Kassem; Ramla - Lod; Bnei Ayish - Gedera; and Or Yehuda - Yahud - Savion.
The proposal has drawn criticism from politicians and city mayors, and it is also likely to meet with angry responses from residents in affluent communities, who may challenge it in the courts.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on January 8, 2008
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