Tayibe Municipality Races to Prevent Demolition of Homes Facing Imminent Destruction

The Tayibe municipality held an emergency meeting Wednesday evening to address the imminent demolition of dozens of homes in the city's western area, including properties belonging to the Abu Hajjaj family and others. These homes are located near the city of Qalqilya on land within Tayibe's jurisdiction. The meeting was convened amid warnings that demolition orders could be executed within weeks, prompting urgent efforts to find legal and planning solutions to halt the destruction and protect homeowners.

The municipality reviewed available legal and professional avenues to tackle the issue and explored potential actions with relevant authorities to preserve the homes and their owners' rights. Tayibe Mayor Yahya Haj Yahya affirmed the municipality's support for the affected residents, pledging to utilize its professional, engineering, and legal teams to work towards a resolution.

Former Tayibe Mayor Shu'aa Masarwa Mansour had previously warned of the impending demolitions, stating that the national demolition unit had distributed notices for the demolition of an entire neighborhood within 21 days. He described the affected area as the "Abu Hajjaj family neighborhood" west of Tayibe, criticizing the local authority for insufficient assistance to the residents and warning of inevitable destruction for a city lacking vision and planning solutions.

Mayor Yahya Haj Yahya linked the resolution of building and planning issues in the western area to a broader regional plan that the municipality has recently advanced. He announced that the municipal council voted to submit the western area plan to the District Planning and Building Commission, a plan spanning approximately 1,340 dunams and including around 9,000 housing units, commercial spaces, a park, and public areas. The mayor anticipates final approval within months, which would enable the issuance of building permits and protect Tayibe's land from other national plans.

This situation highlights a persistent crisis in planning and construction within Arab towns, where residents face demolition risks due to a lack of approved master plans. While the municipality is pushing forward with its long-term plan, homeowners face the immediate threat of demolition before planning procedures are finalized. The outcome hinges on legal and planning actions taken by the municipality and residents before the relevant authorities.