The Tenders Committee of
the Israel Land Authority rejected on Thursday proposals made by an association
of 12 haredi organizations to purchase lots for residential building in the
northern town of Harish.
The lots are zoned for
4,634 housing units. A secular buyers group alleged that the haredi groups,
under the umbrella body of the United Haredi Housing Committee, were “acting
like a cartel” and were engaging in price fixing, contrary to tender laws.
Harish has been billed as
one of the solutions for the haredi housing crisis but the Tender Committee’s decision
will endanger the plans to settle large numbers of haredim in the town.