Yafia al-Nasra Council Head Details Municipal Projects and Calls for High Voter Turnout
Translated & summarized from Alarab by baba
Maher Khalilieh, head of the Yafia al-Nasra local council, announced a balanced budget of 165 million shekels and detailed municipal development projects, including a new municipal complex and industrial zone. He urged Arab citizens to achieve over 70% voter turnout in the upcoming Knesset elections to counter the far-right. Khalilieh also confirmed his intention to run for a second term as council head.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yafia al-Nasra's council head Maher Khalilieh announced a balanced budget of 165 million shekels for 2026.
- Khalilieh is running for a second term as head of the Yafia al-Nasra local council.
- He called for over 70% voter turnout in the Knesset elections to prevent the far-right from governing.
- The municipality is developing a new municipal complex costing 40 million shekels and a new industrial zone.
- Khalilieh criticized the government for hindering budgets and failing to combat crime in Arab communities.
Maher Khalilieh, head of the Yafia al-Nasra local council, discussed the municipality's balanced budget of 165 million shekels and upcoming development projects in an interview with "Kul al-Arab." He highlighted the construction of a modern municipal complex, "Campus Ironi," costing approximately 40 million shekels, expected to open by the end of 2027. This project aims to consolidate various municipal services into one location, alleviating traffic and parking issues.
Khalilieh also detailed urban planning initiatives, including the finalization of plans for over 2,000 dunams for residential areas and the tender for a new industrial zone exclusively serving Yafia al-Nasra. He addressed financial matters, stating the council approved a 2026 budget of 165 million shekels, with a focus on education. He refuted claims of significant debt, explaining that any deficit is temporary and within acceptable local government limits, attributing a recent tax increase to rising costs for waste disposal and labor following the October 7th events.
Regarding national politics, Khalilieh described the upcoming Knesset elections as an "emergency situation" for the Arab community, urging a voter turnout exceeding 70% to prevent the far-right from governing. He criticized the current government's policies, citing bureaucratic obstacles and deliberate delays in budget transfers to Arab communities, and alleged that police resource reductions are politically motivated against the Arab population.
Khalilieh also announced his official candidacy for a second term as head of the Yafia al-Nasra local council, emphasizing his commitment to continuing strategic development projects. He also touched upon regional expansion, noting the addition of over 1,500 dunams to the council's jurisdiction and ongoing coordination with Nazareth to define shared administrative boundaries.