The government has approved a plan that would give 100,000 shekel grants to young couples who buy homesin the country's outskirts. The grant applies to people who do not own a home who are buying anapartment in a high-density residential housing project in any of 30 outlyingcommunities designated as National Priority Zone A. This follows an agreement between Housing Minister Ariel Atias andInterior Minister Eli Yishai, both of them Shas members, and Finance MinisterYuval Steinitz of Likud. Under the program, buyers will receive 60,000 shekelsup front and up to 40,000 shekels in infrastructure subsidies. Housing Ministry analysts say the new program will cost the stateabout 400 million shekels, on the assumption that 4,000 couples each receive a100,000 shekel benefit. The program will be funded by the housing and financeministries.
