Israel to Legalize Tens of Thousands of Unsanctioned Arab Sector Buildings

Official documents obtained by the "Artzitnu" movement reveal that Israeli planning officials are advancing a large-scale legalization of tens of thousands of housing units in the Arab sector. This initiative, described as a "huge whitewash," is proceeding quietly within the Planning Administration.

The plan aims to regularize 57,847 illegal structures and housing units, encompassing 36,185 in urban areas and 21,662 in rural settings. The primary areas affected are the Negev, with 35,598 buildings slated for legalization, followed by the Galilee with 8,781, the Triangle region with 7,870, and Wadi Ara with 2,491.

The "Artzitnu" movement accuses government bureaucracy of orchestrating this move, linking its roots to substantial budgets allocated to the Arab sector under the previous "Ta'kadum" government plan. They argue this policy creates a stark sense of discrimination and inequality before the law, contrasting sharply with the strict enforcement faced by Jewish citizens for minor building violations.

"The severe message to the Arab sector is that it's not a big deal if you built illegally, the state will eventually align with you," warned Yonatan Ahiya, chairman of the "Artzitnu" movement. He criticized the process as "legalizing the abomination" and stated that law-abiding citizens lose out while the state forfees land and sovereignty.