Arab Towns Face Development Hurdles Amid Shifting Planning Policies
Arab local authorities and the advocacy group Sikkuy-Auufuk are protesting what they describe as a deliberate slowdown and reduction of development plans in Arab towns, including Tayibe and Umm al-Fahm. They argue that recent planning decisions are increasingly influenced by political and security considerations, hindering the growth of these communities and exacerbating housing shortages.
Guy Nardi, Sikkuy-Auufuk's housing and land coordinator, explained that while national master plan Tama 35, established in 2005, aimed to balance urban development with open space preservation, recent amendments, particularly Amendment 5 in June 2023, have shifted focus towards strengthening rural settlements, especially in the periphery. Nardi contends these changes favor Jewish settlement expansion at the expense of Arab towns, contrasting with a previous trend since Government Decision 922 (2016-2020) that sought to advance Arab communities.
Local officials in Tayibe cite the cancellation of master plans for towns like Kseife and Laqia, and delays in others, as evidence. Lawyer Shakir Bala'um, head of Tayibe's local council, highlighted the loss of building land for residents, the designation of private land for a construction aggregate terminal serving the Gush Dan region, and the planned construction of an interchange, all of which he claims severely limit Tayibe's expansion. He also pointed to the confiscation of land for agricultural use, with building prohibited.
In Umm al-Fahm, city manager Ofer Toder described increasing difficulties with planning authorities, including reduced land allocation for local housing and a dispute over a buffer zone demanded by the Ministry of Defense between Umm al-Fahm and the nearby settlement of Mi'ami. Toder stated this buffer zone would necessitate demolishing 19 homes and prevent the establishment of a civic center, despite initial security approvals for the plan.
The Planning Administration responded that the alternative site near Tayibe was chosen after thorough review and that planning is ongoing. The security establishment stated that buffer zones are necessary for safe access during security incidents. Sikkuy-Auufuk's co-CEO, Ragad Jaraisi, urged planning institutions to make professional decisions based on residents' needs, not political agendas, and to cease policies that restrict the development and civil rights of Arab communities.
