Druze Towns Face Planning Challenges, Seek Development Solutions

A seminar titled "Planning and Druze Towns: Present Challenges and Future Prospects" was recently held in Yarka, organized by the Arab Center for Alternative Planning in partnership with the Yarka Local Council. The event brought together religious, academic, and professional figures, along with representatives from local authorities and individuals interested in land, planning, and development issues in Druze communities.

The central question addressed was how planning can shift from being a source of challenges to a driver of development, strengthening community resilience, and building a more just future for Druze towns. Dr. Samer Sweid, Director General of the Arab Center for Alternative Planning, opened the seminar, emphasizing the importance of an in-depth discussion on planning, land, and housing issues in Druze towns as fundamental to their future growth.

Sheikh Mofeed Tareef, the Spiritual Leader of the Druze community, spoke about planning and construction issues, highlighting the Druze community's just demands for equality in rights, resources, and planning compared to other communities in Israel. Salman Mulla, Head of the Yarka Local Council, discussed the planning and construction challenges faced by Druze local authorities and the need for planning solutions that meet residents' needs and allow for continued development.

A research presentation by Dr. Samer Sweid revealed that approximately two-thirds of land in Druze towns has been confiscated, with over two thousand unlicensed homes also noted. The research explored the historical background and the impact of these issues on urban, social, and economic development.

A panel discussion followed, featuring Professor Yusri Khairan, who presented models of protests in Druze towns since Israel's establishment, noting land and housing issues as central to many of them. Dr. Hanna Sweid analyzed the political and social background of planning issues and ways to secure rights. Dr. Anaya Bana Jreis discussed the role of civil society in planning and development, stressing its importance in shaping policies for Arab and Druze towns. Urban planner Nesreen Sakr Diksi shared her professional experience with planning challenges in local authorities. Lawyer Dr. Qais Nasser concluded by reviewing data and experiences related to planning in Druze towns from a professional and legal perspective.

Participants agreed that planning, land, and housing are not merely technical issues but are intrinsically linked to the future of Druze towns, their economic and social development, and community cohesion. They stressed the need for a comprehensive planning vision based on equality and justice, granting local authorities, civil society, and residents a genuine role in shaping their towns' futures. The seminar served as a platform for dialogue to move from diagnosing challenges to identifying mechanisms for transforming planning into a catalyst for development and building a more just and sustainable future.