PM: Gov't to take short-term measures to relieve housing shortage

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a government meeting that the protest against the high cost of housing is legitimate, and announced that the construction of 48,000 housing units has began.

"The apartments are expensive because there aren't enough apartments, stemming from a government monopoly that holds over 90% of the lands in Israel that are meant for construction," he said. "We will take a series of measures to help young couples, students and needy populations over the next year and a half, until large construction ventures come into effect." (Yair Altman)