A significant and meaningful reform was often colloquially referred to as the "balcony reform" or "pergola reform" in communication. The nickname comes from the vision of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his 100-day team, where he aimed to reform planning and construction in Israel, reducing bureaucracy in these areas. The emphasis was on the social aspects, where a citizen wanting to enclose a balcony or build a pergola had to apply for a permit, and the licensing process could be lengthy.

The reform is not a minor one concerning balcony enclosures and does not solely focus on bureaucracy reduction. Instead, it represents a direct and clear implementation of the findings of the Zeiler Committee report following the Versailles disaster. It stems from a government decision dating back to 2006, which called for advancing processes that would lead to substantial improvement in the construction quality in Israel. This improvement is achieved through streamlining and simplifying procedures, with the aim of fostering a construction culture in Israel.

The Royal Committee for Examining Safety in Buildings and Public Places, led by Judge Zeiler, identified significant deficiencies in the overall quality of procedures related to licensing and construction. According to Judge Zeiler, we are required to move construction from the "foolish circle" to the "wise circle."

The Zeiler Committee's report from December 2003 provided a fascinating and comprehensive explanation of the existing situation that led to the Versailles disaster. It proposed detailed principles for the systematic regulation of the issue, including:

The report defined responsibilities, suggested changes to the organizational structure, improved licensing procedures, refined permit-related information, and advocated for the establishment of control mechanisms for the engineering design of construction. This report, presented to the government, led to the establishment of a governmental implementation committee and the formation of working teams to provide specific guidance for implementing the committee's recommendations.

In November 2006, the Government of Israel decided to adopt the findings of the report, with a focus on the following topics:

• Improving and updating regulations for licensing and construction, including the drafting of a building code and upgrading regulations in this regard.
• Separating planning and construction into two distinct and clear laws or sections and putting in place clear guidelines.
• Establishing control mechanisms, including a quality control breaker, for construction design in permitting and execution stages.
• Enhancing accessibility to quality and reliable information on licensing and construction for the public.
• Upgrading professional qualifications in the fields of planning and construction, including specific actions as needed.

In light of the aforementioned decision, in the year 2009, a senior Construction Division was established within the Planning Administration of the Ministry of the Interior. Its purpose was to manage and advocate for the necessary processes required for implementing the recommendations of the Zeiler Committee on this matter. The division's worldview is based on promoting the required change, moving from the "foolish circle" to the "wise circle," through collaborative efforts involving all sectors. The aim is to bring about a comprehensive cultural change within the industry, with the following achievements in mind:

Under the decision mentioned earlier, in 2009, a senior Construction Division was established within the Planning Administration of the Ministry of the Interior. Its mission is to manage and advocate for the necessary processes required to implement the recommendations of the Zeiler Committee. The division's goal is to bring about a comprehensive cultural change within the construction industry. This change aims to achieve several objectives, including improving the quality of construction in Israel, streamlining and shortening the construction licensing process with transparency, clarity, and reliability. It also involves implementing a unified, relevant, and dynamic language for construction regulations and encouraging professionalism, innovation, and accountability among construction stakeholders. Ultimately, the division's efforts are geared towards making a significant contribution to sustainability and good design in the built environment in Israel.

In the years following the establishment of the division, comprehensive work has been undertaken to gradually bring about the anticipated changes. This has been achieved through partnership, understanding, and shared responsibility among various government ministries, sectors, and diverse audiences. The focus has been on collaborative efforts with representative bodies and various stakeholders, facilitated in part through the Information Gateway for Licensing and Construction website and its newsletter.

The recent reform, which has now become law under Amendment 101 to the Planning and Building Law, is the result of many years of comprehensive work. It is founded on a broad public responsibility and aims to bring about both the swift closure of balconies and an overall improvement in the quality of construction in Israel. The reform's provisions came into effect in August of the following year, and they were completed on January 1, 2016.