Ayalim in Action- Offering an alternative solution to the housing protests

From its inception Ayalim has always been an organisation about “doing”. While most people sat talking about the apathy of the youth, the dwindling of Zionist ideals, and the numerous problems of Israeli society, the founders of Ayalim decided to take action and began building student villages in the Negev and Galilee regions with the vision of developing these peripheral areas of Israel. 

Today, 9 years later, the organisation is well established, operating on a national level with 13 villages and over 500 students living in the North and South of the country. However its leadership has in no way become complacent and continues to engage with and take an active part in the social issues of the nation. The current housing protest is no exception.

Unsurprisingly, Ayalim has chosen to participate in a somewhat unconventional manner and is plotting its own course in the social protests that have engulfed Israel in the past week, becoming the largest social demonstration in the history of the State of Israel. Ayalim sees itself as well positioned to offer an alternative solution to the problems of lack of affordable housing and high living costs that have galvanised over 150 000 people to take to the streets and demand the government address these issues. Ayalim sees at least part of the solution in focussing on the periphery, by removing unnecessary bureaucracy and giving people the incentives that will make it financially viable to move to these areas. Ayalim is calling on the government to support young people who have made this move and provide the means for others to do the same.

To this effect, Ayalim has taken the initiative to establish 11 residential points in the Negev and Galilee. Within one day 300 families had already signed up to live in these areas. Ayalim plans to follow a method reminiscent of the Homat V’Migdal techniques used by the pre-state pioneers who first built towers and then received official recognition to establish settlements.

However Ayalim’s actions are in no way politically contentious, in that all the locations where they are setting up caravan are in areas of consensus within Israel (within the Green Line.) These areas include Ramat HaNegev, Dimona, Yeruham, Ofakim, Mitzpeh Ramon and Kiryat Shmona. These are places that lack resources and human capital and can greatly benefit from an influx of young people who are fed up with the high costs of the city and are looking for an alternative lifestyle.

Ayalim hopes that within 21 days it will provide them with housing facilities and in 60 days the organisation expects to receive government approval for the building of permanent communities as part of its Housing Plan for the Negev and the Galilee. Ayalim Deputy Director Dany Gliksberg explains: “We need to offer young families like those protesting in the tent cities viable solutions for their future.” Ayalim sees the current housing protest as a historical opportunity that could potentially provide a catalyst for both developing the periphery and offering young Israelis the potential for an alternative, less stressful lifestyle in these areas.