It appears that newly minted PM Benjamin Netanyahu will actually keep a campaign promise. Legislation will be introduced to privatize the Israel Lands Authority.

According to Globes: “The reform includes the transfer ownership of land from the ILA to the tenants who currently lease it under long-term leases for residences or business, and who will now assume full ownership. The terms for the transfer of ownership, including compensation, will be determined by the ministerial committee. If necessary, legislation will be prepared for this purpose. The marketing of new land will be solely for sale, not leases, even if there is no detailed plan for the land.

Under the reform, the ILA will cease to have any role in planning and developing infrastructures, and the responsibility will be transferred to local authorities and the private sector. Cases that require government involvement in planning and development will come under the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing and Construction, which will outsource the work.

The ILA will be replaced with a Land Authority, which will have a headquarters and three divisions. The business division will market land and carry out transactions, the land protection division will oversee and enforce the state’s land rights, and the service division will be responsible for current leases. The service division will outsource its work.”

Now let’s hope that the pledge to cut taxes will be implemented as well.

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