Ra'am Party Leveraged Fast-Track Planning Law for Arab Sector Housing

Ra'am, an Arab political party in Israel, is highlighting its role in extending the Outline Plan Law (TAMA 35), also known as the "fast track" planning law, as a key achievement from the previous Knesset term. The law, originally enacted in 2014 as a four-year temporary measure, allows for expedited planning of large housing complexes to combat high living costs and housing shortages. Ra'am claims this law has been instrumental in approving plans for over 60,000 housing units in Arab communities.

The Outline Plan Law enables bypassing lengthy traditional planning processes, including land rezoning, to produce ready-to-build detailed plans. While the general public faced conditions such as plans primarily on state land and a minimum of 750 housing units, the Arab sector had more lenient requirements, including no state land stipulation and a lower minimum of 500 units, later reduced to 200. This led to the approval of substantial housing projects in Arab towns, such as an 1,834-unit complex in Tamra when the town had only about 7,700 existing units.

When the law expired in 2018, its extension faced opposition, notably from MK Bezalel Smotrich. However, it was extended with support from opposition members, including nine Arab representatives. Subsequent extensions, particularly under the Bennett-Lapid government in August 2021, saw a significant shift in policy. Ra'am, as part of its coalition agreement, pushed for the law's renewal and expanded powers, demanding an annual target of 10,000 housing units for the Arab sector.

Data from the Planning Administration reveals a dramatic change in allocation. Before 2020, 82% of plans were for the general public, 13% for the Arab sector, and 4% for the ultra-Orthodox. After the law's renewal in August 2021, the focus shifted: 57% of plans were for the Arab sector, 42% for the general public, and 0% for the ultra-Orthodox. This trend continued, with significant planning approvals in Arab towns. Even under the current right-wing government, while there was a temporary shift favoring the ultra-Orthodox in 2023, the trend of prioritizing Arab sector planning has largely resumed.

Beyond new construction, Ra'am also claims the law has helped legitimize illegal construction in Arab communities. The Planning Administration is reportedly working to "regulate" approximately 66,000 housing units in the Arab sector, effectively legalizing vast amounts of previously unauthorized building and reducing incentives for legal construction. This phenomenon, Ra'am argues, has continued even under recent right-wing governments.