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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Look, just because someone wants to build
and can’t get a permit, doesn’t give them the right to break the
law. There is a process that exists here. First your area has to
have building rights in the first place and then you can apply for a permit,
submit the plans and build. From personally experience this is fairly
painless and not that expensive, at least not several years ago when we
did it. People who disregard the rules in this respect and build as they
wish may be doing more than breaking the law. They could be blocking
someones view, building something ugly and intrusive that there neighbours have
to look at or potentially something more dangerous like compromising their
neighbours or their own building foundations. I suggest you check into
these details with a professional architect/engineer or the like who deals with
the iriya and can guide you. Good luck.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> rbs-bounces@cs.huji.ac.il
[mailto:rbs-bounces@cs.huji.ac.il] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf
Of </span></b>Riva<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, June 22, 2012 12:41
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> rbs@cs.huji.ac.il<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [RBS] illegal
building--is there a better way?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The Chadash this week focuses on illegal building and how
there are so many Beit Shemesh residents in violation of building code and how
the Iriya is being forced to step up “tzav harisah” and stop
illegal building.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>It has become clear to me that the process of obtaining
permits here—and perhaps all throughout <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>—is so twisted and so
full of corruption that I believe it is an impediment to the average citizen
being able to build legally. In the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place>, you could apply for a building
permit pretty easily, pay a nominal fee, and get your permit, provided you were
in compliance with zoning laws. Over here, though, just obtaining building
permits involves thousands of shekels, often equal to the cost of the
renovation itself! And a regular citizen cannot get around having to pay these
fees to architects or engineers. Moreover, there is a lot of bribery, buttering
up, and entirely non-kosher stuff that goes into getting permits which makes
the whole system seem highly corrupt.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>So firstly, I am wondering if I am missing something here. I
mean, it just seems so obvious that people are building illegally because they
can’t afford to obtain permits—or even if they are willing to pay,
it can take YEARS to obtain permits, or sometimes the zoning laws are just so
capricious and ridiculous. Of course, there are going to be those people who
couldn’t’ care less about permits even if they cost a dollar, but
I’m talking overall. So why is no one talking about this aspect?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The next thing I’m wondering is…is there
anything to do? The same way cellphone company corruption was finally
abolished, can we work to abolish construction corruption and if so, how?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Good Shabbos,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Riva<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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