By DANIEL KENNEMER
TAMA 35, the updated national land use plan, was unanimously voted into effect by the government, the Interior Ministry said Sunday.
"The point of departure of TAMA 35 is that the State of Israel is already one of the most crowded countries in the world, and there is a need to continue developing it at a fast pace to meet the required demands," the ministry said in a statement. However the statement stressed that the plan prevents urban sprawl and maintains "a clear distinction between flourishing city life and open spaces."
The plan is intended to guide the physical development of Israel to 2020 and beyond, and will be subject to assessment every four years.