[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Supporters of Netanyahu's initiative note that
the sale of publicly owned land to foreign elements via third parties would
be prevented under the program by the recording of a permanent warning note
in the Lands Registry records for each parcel in the program requiring the
approval of a Government authority for the transfer of ownership of the
parcel to a foreigner.]

'Arab tycoons bought land in Galilee'
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 15, 2009
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1249418610783&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull

Wealthy individuals from Arab states that do not have diplomatic relations
with Israel have recently procured hundreds of dunams of private
agricultural land in the Galilee, Israel Radio reported on Saturday.
Farmers in the Galilee tried to unite in an effort to thwart the sale, which
was reportedly funded by tycoons from the Persian Gulf, but did not succeed
in raising sufficient funds to buy the land from its owners, who were forced
to sell after suffering from financial problems.

The Israel Lands Administration (ILA) told the radio station that it could
not interfere with the transaction since the lands are privately-owned and
not state property.

Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon (Labor) said in response to the report
that the issue was not his responsibility.

Meretz party head and former agriculture minister Haim Oron said that the
incident proves that the supporters of the Israel Lands Administration
reform plan were misguided.

Kadima MK Nachman Shai issued a press release saying that what everyone has
feared finally happened, and "Israeli lands are being sold to the highest
bidder."

"The Israel Land Authorities reform is a loophole calling out to the robber,
and it will attract, as expected, Arab investors from abroad, who will
eventually gain control over significant pieces of land in Israel," Shai
wrote in a statement.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has argued that the fact that 93% of land
in Israel is public-owned abets obstructionist bureaucracy and that
unsnarling red-tape is in everyone's interest.

Rebecca Anna Stoil contributed to this report