Discrimination in the Arab Sector
The lack of adequate plans for Arab towns and villages, with appropriate zoning and building provisions for housing, as well as the lack of land reserves for future development has led to a chronic shortage of housing and severe overcrowding.
Residents often can not obtain legal building permits for their own land given the absence of updated and adequate plans.
Therefore, many residents have little recourse but to build “illegally”. Many of these residents have received home demolition orders and are subject to extremely hefty fines. These communities also suffer from poor infrastructure, educational, health and social services and lack of access to industrial and employment zones as the result of poor planning.
Together with local residents, Bimkom:
- Identifies and defines the community’s present and future needs (for example in Qalansawe and Yarka), in terms of housing, access to education, health clinics, community centers, employment zones, playgrounds, roads, sewerage and more;
- Analyzes existing plans, if any, and/or those under preparation, in comparison to the community’s needs and proposes solutions to planning distress;
- Assists communities in advocating these recommendations vis-à-vis decision makers;
- Formulates expert opinions detailing appropriate planning directions which we submit to planning authorities;
- If needed, Bimkom prepares planning objections which we submit to the planning authorities and/or expert opinions to the Court.
