Women's Participation Key to Fair Development, Equality Center Says

The Equality Center emphasized that the participation of women in planning and decision-making is essential for achieving fair and sustainable local development. This statement was made during a field visit to Jisr az-Zarqa on Sunday, organized as part of the "Network of Arab Women Entrepreneurs" project. The visit, which included social activists, local council members, and entrepreneurs from various Arab towns, aimed to understand the economic, social, and planning challenges facing Jisr az-Zarqa and to explore development opportunities and women's roles in influencing policies.

The visit included meetings with the local council leadership and social activists, learning about local women's experiences, and a tour examining the relationship between land, planning, natural resources, and economic opportunities. The delegation met with the head of the local council, Murad Amash, who highlighted the town's economic and social gaps compared to neighboring areas like Caesarea and Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael. He cited limited development land, high population density, and a lack of jobs and infrastructure as key challenges. Amash also discussed the impact of planning policies, including road construction in 1964 and the separation barrier with Caesarea in 2000, and the delayed approval of the master plan, which was initiated in 2007 and approved only in 2018. He noted that the town's area of approximately 1,572 dunams presents difficulties in providing housing and public facilities, despite its coastal location and potential for tourism and economic development.

Participants stressed the necessity of women's partnership in identifying needs, setting priorities, preparing plans and budgets, and monitoring project implementation, particularly in employment, tourism, small businesses, infrastructure, and community services. Jamil Amash discussed the importance of utilizing available budgets and resources, while Hedayeh Jarban focused on enhancing communication between the council and women activists. Rasssim Jarban addressed the challenges faced by social workers in supporting needy families.

Jaafar Farah, director of the Equality Center, reviewed the center's work with Jisr az-Zarqa residents and the local council, including legal and public efforts to address land, planning, and housing issues, and to defend the rights of fishermen and local businesses on the shore. He highlighted the center's interventions against demolition orders in the fishermen's village and its support for the entrepreneur Hamama Jarban, emphasizing the need for continued cooperation between local authorities, human rights institutions, and community initiatives.

The program continued with a field tour led by activist Kifaya Amash, where participants learned about Jisr az-Zarqa's history, the Gawarneh community's roots, and the residents' relationship with the land, sea, and Crocodile River. The tour showcased women's roles in preserving collective memory and popular heritage, and in leading community and economic initiatives despite spatial and resource limitations. Hamama Jarban's experience as a fisherwoman and entrepreneur facing demolition orders was highlighted, demonstrating women's ability to develop local initiatives and sparking discussion on residents' rights to benefit from their natural resources.

The visit concluded with a communal lunch, facilitating further exchange of experiences. Lama Nashashibi Khoury stated that Jisr az-Zarqa's experience proves development requires addressing resource distribution gaps, ensuring residents benefit from their towns' potential, and involving women in setting priorities. She added that the Network of Arab Women Entrepreneurs aims to connect knowledge and training with practical realities, empowering women to understand and influence policies and decision-making mechanisms.

The visit is part of the network's activities to develop women's leadership capacities, enhance their knowledge of planning and local development issues, and increase their participation in public and municipal work. The project is implemented by the Equality Center in partnership with Na'amat of the Southern Triangle and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, with joint funding from the European Union and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, aiming to expand Arab women's participation in public life and leadership positions.