100 Million Shekels for Dimona and Arad: 760 New Apartments to Replace Missile-Damaged Housing
The Government Authority for Urban Renewal has allocated 100 million shekels to subsidize reconstruction projects in Dimona and Arad. The funding aims to ensure the economic viability of building 760 new apartments to replace 253 units damaged by missile strikes.
The Government Authority for Urban Renewal announced on Monday that it will provide approximately 100 million shekels in aid for rehabilitation and urban renewal projects in Dimona and Arad. The initiative is designed to replace hundreds of apartments in complexes hit by missile strikes during the war with Iran.
The assistance will be awarded to developers selected to lead these projects, ensuring their economic viability in peripheral areas. The director of the Authority, Yuri Gammerman, recently published notices detailing the grants and conditions for the Yoseftal complex in Dimona and the Tlalim complex in Arad. This funding is in addition to resources provided by the Property Tax for rehabilitation purposes.
According to current planning assessments, approximately 760 new apartments are expected to be built across the two sites, replacing the 253 existing damaged units. In late June, the government declared these areas rehabilitation zones under the Law for the Rehabilitation of War Damage through Urban Renewal, allowing for a broader redevelopment process rather than simple restoration.
Project Overviews
In Dimona’s Yoseftal complex, where a missile strike on June 21 caused significant damage to five buildings, the current 92 housing units are slated to be replaced by approximately 280 new apartments. Similarly, in Arad’s Tlalim complex, the 161 existing apartments will be replaced by roughly 480 new housing units.
A primary challenge in promoting urban renewal outside high-demand areas is achieving the economic viability necessary for developers. The state is bridging this gap through public funding. The Rehabilitation Law empowers the Authority to subsidize costs if an economic assessment deems a project otherwise unfeasible.
Gammerman stated:
"We see the rehabilitation of the complexes hit in the war as a top priority and strive for their rehabilitation as quickly and efficiently as possible."
He added that the move aims to help residents return to new, protected, and safer homes while strengthening the periphery through long-term urban renewal.
