Arab Local Councils Face Existential Threat From Right-Wing Government, Says Jisr az-Zarqa Mayor

Murad Amash, head of the Jisr az-Zarqa Local Council, has issued a stark warning that the continuation of the current right-wing government's policies could lead to the dissolution of Arab local councils. Speaking on the program "All the Arabs and the Local Authority," Amash criticized the government, particularly Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, for what he described as extreme and racist policies that freeze budgets and projects for Arab towns. He highlighted the complex organizational and financial challenges facing Jisr az-Zarqa, including severe overcrowding with 16,000 residents on just 1,572 dunams, a situation exacerbated by geographical constraints.

Amash detailed efforts to expand the town's master plan, adding 400 dunams and planning for 600 housing units. However, he noted that a crucial project to relocate Highway 2 and build a traffic circle in the eastern neighborhood has been indefinitely postponed by Smotrich's "arbitrary decision." Despite these obstacles, Amash reported progress in reducing the council's historical debt, bringing it down from 180-200 million shekels to a current cumulative deficit of 26.8 million shekels. He attributed the 2024 annual deficit of 4.8 million shekels primarily to the high costs of social welfare and special education cases for residents placed outside the village, urging the state to cover these expenses.

On the tourism and infrastructure front, Amash announced ongoing projects worth over 30 million shekels for street development and a 20 million shekel investment to transform Jisr az-Zarqa's coast into an economic hub, including developing the port, a fishermen's village, and "Crocodile Hill." An agreement has also been signed with the Hof HaCarmel Regional Council to attract tourists visiting nearby Caesarea. Regarding crime, he stated the council relies on community mechanisms and reconciliation committees, supported by a police presence of over 70 officers.

Amash strongly urged the Arab public to vote in the upcoming Knesset elections, emphasizing that the experience of 2022, which led to government plans like 550 and specific decisions for Jisr az-Zarqa, demonstrated the impact of electoral participation. He called for a high turnout on October 27, stating, "Even if there is a feeling of injustice or resentment, one must not stay home. Going out to vote and bring down this extremist composition is a democratic right and a duty to confront the existential danger and save what can be saved of our society."