The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Housing, Absorption and Construction announced today that their Tel Aviv offices will be moved to Jerusalem shortly. Agriculture Minister Ariel Sharon told the Ministerial Committee on Jerusalem that the transfer of his headquarters would begin “immediately.”
Finance Minister Yigal Hurwitz estimated that the moves would cost the Treasury IL 1 billion, but officials of the two ministries concerned estimated a much smaller sum. Several hundred workers will have to be moved from Tel Aviv, a major expense in itself.
Interior Minister Yosef Burg, the committee chairman, said that whatever the cost, the move would be effected. “This is an essential step so that the world will know that there is only one Jerusalem which is the capital of Israel, “Burg said. He noted that the decision to move the ministries coincides with the session of the United Nations General Assembly on the Palestinians beginning tomorrow.
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