Israeli State Approves Extensive Arab Town Expansions in Galilee Creating Territorial Continuity
A detailed investigation by Kalman Libeskind published in "Makor Rishon," with contributions from the "Lev BaGalil" organization, reveals that Israel has approved large-scale building plans in Arab towns across the Galilee region that far exceed the population growth needs projected for these communities. This expansion has led to continuous territorial links between Arab local authorities along key transportation routes, raising security concerns about potential disruptions to movement and access to northern border areas.
The report focuses on the "Heart of the Galilee," a 420 square kilometer area containing 56 towns, 34 Jewish and 22 Arab, with a population ratio of approximately 80% Arab (281,000) to 20% Jewish (71,000) as of 2023. Over time, Arab jurisdictions have formed contiguous zones that sometimes encircle Jewish populations, potentially complicating security operations. Historical incidents such as the October 2000 events and Operation Guardian of the Walls are cited, where road blockages hindered access to Jewish communities.
A prominent example is Kafr Kanna, currently home to about 24,000 residents, projected to grow to 45,000 by 2065, yet approved building plans accommodate up to 76,000 people. Similar discrepancies between approved plans and actual construction exist in towns like Tur'an, Bir al-Maksur, Tamra, and Shefa-'Amr, where only a fraction of permitted housing units have been built. The approval of these plans effectively freezes enforcement against illegal construction and allows infrastructure deployment, according to a Ministry of Settlement document.
The investigation highlights the role of Professor Rasem Khamaisi, a planning expert involved in many Arab sector development plans, who has advocated using state planning tools to advance Palestinian national goals. He has participated in plans for Kafr Kanna, Deir al-Asad, and Arraba, where Arab towns form territorial continuities near Jewish towns and critical roads.
Mapping by "Lev BaGalil" identified about 63,000 dunams of planning surplus beyond population needs in Arab towns, which combined with illegal construction totals around 70,000 dunams. Meanwhile, Jewish rural towns in the area have seen a sharp decline in new housing starts, dropping from an average of 51-81 units annually (2014-2019) to just 4-5 units per year (2019-2023), compared to 180-250 starts annually in large Arab towns.
Settlement Minister Orit Strook responded by pushing policy changes to require population growth forecasts based on Central Bureau of Statistics data through 2065 before approving plans, aiming to halt unnecessary land allocation and enforce uniform planning rules. "Lev BaGalil" chairman Ofir Shik called for retrospective reviews and security assessments of approved plans affecting strategic routes, while "Artzenu" director Yonatan Ahia urged halting new plans pending data verification. Professor Khamaisi did not respond to inquiries from "Makor Rishon."
