Planning laws in Israel are a joke. You pay Graft and you get permissions at cost to the treasury, and the money availabke for affordable housing US$ 100's millions go by uncollected, stolen from public purse where illegal build is overlooked as bribes are paid.

You want free housing? Do it without me.

They are a bigger israeli crime than the housing crisis

No one gets free anything in Israel . These people want level playing ground. The rich abuse planning laws and taxation, moving moner from public purse into their pockets.

Why don't you ask Daphny's parents to give up their house value. You can't go to someone and ask them to give up 50% of their value, can you? When students grow older and they can't afford houses, the prices will go down because no one will be able to afford them. I am confused to what they are asking for?

So they are building a new Kibbutz? Good for them. Housing "crysis" solved.

in a major city is NOT a crime. It would be a crime if the govt created cheap housing, in the middle of expensive areas, against market forces, in order to appease those who can't - or won't - pay the going market rate, and won't live elsewhere where reasonable housing does exist. It's not the govt's job to give everyone a wonderful life of comfort regardless of their income or expenses. It's also not the govt's job to make sure I eat healthy or wipe my *ss. It IS the govt's job to make sure the roads I travel to work are safe, that the food I buy is safe to eat, that the economy needed to conduct business and make a living is stable, and that the citizens are safe both from domestic crime and external threats - which Israel has a lot of. Perhaps its because of the success of the govt in all of these categories that the protesters are comfortable enough to complain and demand more, and more, and more - while doing nothing. A selfish Left is usually the sign of a successful State - as is seen in the US.

who refuse to contribute to the State via military/National Service and paying their taxes. This should be fixed first and foremost to close the apartheid gap before we start dealing with housing issues for people who want a nice place to live, in a great area, with the price tag of a crappy neighborhood. I guarantee - if we close the gap between obligations to the State and tax collections, we'd have lots of resources to deal with the housing issues, and then some.

The Kibbutz movement was based on Socialist, secular values at the birth of the State, and although this has died out in lieu of Capitalistic goals, the idea may have a place now. Perhaps these "social protesters" could found and build their own inexpensive housing Kibbutz. There is plenty of open, barren land around - far from the beach and major roads, that could be an excellent place to get started. Oh wait - but they'd have to work for it - building it with their own hands, toiling with the sweat of their brow, and making something out of nothing like their grandparents did. They'll have none of it. They want it pre-packaged, and delivered to them with a silver bow, and no strings attached. Had we expected such things at the birth of the State, we wouldn't be speaking as Israelis today. But the idea for a Kibbutz is plausible. Name it "Kibbutz Justice". The State could kick in some money to cover costs while each person MUST dedicate 50% of their time each week to assisting in the planning and building of their own home. It's a model Habitat for Humanity uses and gets the future family invested in the project. Of course, they'd still need a car to travel to the beach clubs, they'd still have to plan to see friends at Namal Tel Aviv, and they'd still have to deal with the expenses of living - like the rest of us.