"More than 80% of the land has been bought by haredi (ultra-orthodox) backed charities or developers. No matter how you cut it, Harish will be a haredi city. We will hand over the lot soon," Minister of Housing and Construction Ariel Atias told "Kol Barama" radio today. He declined to respond to the disqualification of the haredi United Housing Committee's bids by the tenders committee.
Last week, the Israel Land Authority published the results of the tender for lots for the construction of 4,634 apartments in Harish, and the disqualification of haredi United Housing Committee's bids. The disqualification raises three questions: will the disqualified charities appeal to the courts against the tender committee's decision, which will delay the tender; what will be the character of the new town; and whether developers and contractors will cooperate with the haredi community.
"Legally speaking, the tender win has been declared and is closed. That is the situation, and that is how we and others look at it," said Adv. Yoav Zahavi of Zahavi, Blau & Co. Law Offices & Notary, which represents the Naot Harish buyers group. His letter to the tenders committee led to the disqualification of the haredi charities' bid. "The disqualified charities may petition the High Court of Justice, but there is little chance. The tenders committee did thorough work. There were hearings and they were given more than one chance to respond. I think that the other party has realized that it made a mistake and it will make another mistake to take legal action."
Developer Hanan Mor Group - Holdings Ltd. (TASE:HNMR) won two lots, zoned for 235 apartments and commercial space. "Our bids were not the first, and we won thanks to the disqualification," says Hanan Mor Group chairman Hanan Mor.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 20, 2013
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