Kibbutzniks to own homes
This according to the Jerusalem Post. "In a twist on socialist values, two kibbutzim are in the process of registering their homes as private property, making them Israel's first cooperatives to rent, sell or mortgage houses. Members of Kibbutz Kadarim in the Lower Galilee and Kibbutz Gesher Haziv near Nahariya will register their homes with the Israel Land Administration (ILA), based on a recent resolution that allows for creating personal-lease agreements between kibbutz members and the ILA. For the kibbutz movement, the changes were necessary to bring a large number of kibbutzim out of financial crisis, as well as creating a stable financial environment that will encourage future generations to continue living in their home communities."
Comments (2)
it's interesting that when people are given the choice to live in an economically egalitarian society (and not forced into it), people still by and large choose the alternative. i think i read in friedman's "free to choose" (alright, he's not an austrian. that doesn't mean he can't make a good point!) that no more than 5% of israelis choose to live on a kibbutz at any one time. this depite the high regard of the communes in israeli society and culture.
of course, israel is no capitalist sanctuary outside of the kibbutzim either. wouldn't it be interesting if the kibbutzim turned out to be more capitalistic than the rest of israel. of course, they're not exactly immune from the laws of israel (are they? meaning, a state within a state), so that ain't likely to happen.
Published: April 6, 2004 12:09 AM
I have the feeling that once a kibbutz registers with the ILA, it looses much of its freedom to act as an independent state. However, I don't know enough about this (frankly odd) form of association.
Published: April 6, 2004 10:52 AM