At a professional conference organized by the Jerusalem Builders Contractors Association in collaboration with the Jerusalem Municipality, attended by contractors and developers, the implications and understandings regarding the implementation of a pre-planning (pre-TABA) agreement, which is set to take effect at the beginning of the year, were discussed.

Ilan Gordo, Chairman of the Jerusalem Builders Contractors Association, said at the conference that the agreement recently approved by the municipality regulates the responsibilities of both parties regarding public obligations in construction projects. According to him, the significance of the agreement is a major transformation in the entire development process in Jerusalem: Complete clarity regarding public obligations so that every developer knows precisely, even before submitting the plan, what obligations are required for the project, organized offsets from betterment levies, and so that no additional obligations can be imposed on the developer during the process.

Adv. Elad Gonen from the Jerusalem Municipality Planning Administration stated, "Jerusalem is a pioneer in implementing pre-TABA agreements, and the goal is to start from the first quarter of 2026. It will be attached to every plan submitted to the municipality, whether through the local committee or the district committee." According to him, the framework is intended to allow the municipality to sign pre-TABA agreements with developers, with the ultimate goal of "creating certainty, economic certainty, and planning certainty - for the municipality, the residents, and the developers."

Gonen explained that from the beginning of 2026, every plan submitted to the municipality that involves public benefits will be eligible for a pre-TABA agreement. These public benefits include allocations for public purposes that will serve the project’s residents and the surrounding community.

Adv. Haim Nargasi, Legal Advisor to the Jerusalem Municipality, said, "We view this agreement as a strategic matter that requires initiative and innovation. It is important for us to anchor in the agreements the creation of public infrastructures. Our goal is to prevent situations where entire neighborhoods are populated without public institutions for many years."

Dudu Amzaleg, Director of the Levy and Development Department at the Jerusalem Municipality, said, "The agreement forms the basis for joint work, in collaboration and trust. There must be economic certainty for every developer, every business owner, and for the municipality regarding obligations, and it will not be possible to approve projects without knowing how the public benefits will be financed." According to Amzalag, in 2026, a forum is planned at the beginning of the planning process in collaboration with the Planning Administration. He also noted that his department is promoting digital development to remove unnecessary barriers and delays.

Yoel Even, Jerusalem City Engineer, said at the conference, "Jerusalem has undergone a conceptual change due to the significant population growth in recent years, from the production rate of housing units and construction permits of around 2,000 units per year to 8,000 units per year. Ultimately, we need to provide the simplest thing: A roof over the heads of the people who are expected to live in this city, the additional 500,000 residents over the next 25 years."

Elad Vazana, CEO of Jerusalem Builders, said, "Jerusalem is in the midst of an unprecedented construction period alongside great opportunities. We are required to deal with complex challenges, regulation, coordination between parties, timelines, and economic and planning certainty. At this point, the Jerusalem Builders Association enters as the professional body connecting developers and contractors with the municipal and regulatory system."