The Ministerial Committee on Legislation today, by an 11-1 majority, approved the draft version of the Planning and Construction Law and decided to submit it for its first Knesset reading before the end of the Knesset winter session, subject to Cabinet approval on Sunday, 14.3.10.  The Committee also decided on a unique mechanism that will allow the public to submit comments on the draft law even after its aforesaid submission.

The Committee, chaired by Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman held a six-hour meeting, with the participation of many representatives from the relevant Government ministries, and discussed the draft legislation in detail.

In accordance with a High Court of Justice ruling, a senior attorney from the State Prosecutor's Office briefed the Committee on the motion that had been submitted regarding the time in which the public will be allowed to submit its comments.  The Committee discussed the Court's comments, as well as its recommendation to allow various elements, including the National Planning and Construction Council, to submit additional comments on the draft legislation prior to the decision to submit it for Knesset approval.