Burial societies petition High Court over shortage of grave plots and demand 84% price hike

In depth

Burial societies have petitioned the High Court and argue that cemeteries in Israel face a severe shortage of grave plots. According to them, projects to develop burial sites worth half a billion shekels have been halted, and the Forum and five leading burial societies warn of a mass disaster.

The Burial Societies Forum demands raising the price of a plot to NIS 34.9 thousand in order to finance the development of cemeteries, including multi-level burial buildings. According to the claims, the Ministry of Religious Services has already prepared an order to approve the request, but it has been delayed due to the election period.

Projects for 40,000 graves in Tel Aviv and Haifa have been frozen, and the stock in Or Yehuda, Yarkon and Elad could run out within a year. The burial societies warn that without swift action, there will be no burial spaces left in some cemeteries.