עברית | العربية

After Decades of Darkness, Palestinian Village Gets Power

Haaretz: September 4, 2017 After years of lacking basic infrastructure, the village of Dhaher al-Malah, located in Area C, was finally connected to electricity as the result of a petition filed by Bimkom to the High Court of Justice on behalf of the villagers. Read the article here.

Israel Wrecks 18 Palestinian Structures for Every One It Licenses in West Bank’s Area C

Haaretz: December 27, 2016 Data released to the public in accordance with a request filed by Bimkom shows that between 2014 and 2016 the Civil Administration approved 53 applications for building permits, while demolishing 983 buildings over the same period. Read the article here.

For the Israeli Government, the Tragedy of the Bedouin Jahalin Tribe Is a Success

Haaretz: April 11, 2016 Despite well-documented adverse affects reported on by Bimkom of the proposed plan to relocate the Abu Nuwar community to Al-Jabal, on the outskirts of Al-Azaria, government officials continue to argue that the plan represents a positive development for the current residents of Abu Nawar. Read the article here.

Jewish and Palestinian Jerusalemites Join Together to Fight Landfill

Haaretz: March 02, 2016 Planning authorities’ are moving forward with efforts to develop a landfill in the area where French Hill, Isawiya, and the Shuafat refugee camp meet. The plan has faced opposition from residents of all three communities due to concerns that the landfill would have adverse environmental and health affects to the area. … read more

Petition helps return solar panels to Jubbet Adh-Dhib

The village of of Jubbet Adh-Dhib finally has electricity again after the Civil Administration returned solar panels in response to a petition supported by Bimkom.

Deliberately Planned

Ir Amim and Bimkom are pleased to announce the launch of our joint report, “Deliberately Planned: A Policy to Thwart Planning in the Palestinian Neighborhoods of Jerusalem.” The new report demonstrates how the Israeli authorities deliberately delay and ultimately undermine the approval of plans that actually allow for construction in the Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem. … read more

Trapped by Planning

Over the course of almost fifty years, the Jerusalem Municipality and the Israeli national planning authorities have dealt extensively with planning in Jerusalem, including the planning of the Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. And yet, despite the many plans that have been drawn up and approved in this period, the planning situation in these neighborhoods … read more

Beyond the wrecking ball: How to renew buildings without harming the residents

An article published in Haaretz newspaper about Bimkom’s report on how to promote urban renewal which is responsible and takes into account the needs of current residents. The Bimkom report urges a change in policy with respect to urban renewal in the country, whereby its primary goal would become “to upgrade the living conditions of existing residents and to ensure the possibility that they will be able to enjoy the fruits of that upgrading.”

Why Is There No Development?

Of the Bedouin villages in the Negev, only 12 (one of them just recently in 2014) have been recognized by the government. The government planning process for the recognized villages has largely ignored their spatial reality and its logic. In practice, only 128 residential building permits were issued in only two villages.

East Jerusalem

In the Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem at least 20,000 housing units have been built without permits, making them vulnerable to demolition, while an estimated 10,000 more units are needed. Moreover, there is a serious shortage of schools and classrooms, health clinics, adequate roads, playgrounds and sports facilities, and areas zoned for business activity. Bimkom strives to promote  appropriate plans that meet residents’ needs, … read more