Following advocacy by Bimkom and Palestinian residents, the municipality has indicated its intention to promote a new neighborhood outline plan for Ash-Shayyah, which would remove the threat of the expansion of the Mt. of Olives cemetery into the neighborhood; potentially leading to the demolition of homes. Additionally, in recent months, infrastructural improvements to the neighborhood … read more
After many years without anywhere to play, the children of the Palestinian neighborhood of Abu-Tor finally have a playground, following residents’ tenacious advocacy efforts vis-à-vis the municipality, with Bimkom assistance. Pressure from Bimkom has also resulted in the addition of six new classrooms, thus doubling the capacity of the local girls’ school – although more … read more
A change of policy: the Civil Administration has notified Bimkom that it will no longer prepare the flawed and restrictive “Special Outline Plans” for Palestinian villages. Due to Bimkom’s advocacy and planning objections, as well as international pressure, they have committed to stop preparing these plans and, instead, they will increase consultations with residents to … read more
A precedent was set when the Civil Administration‘s planning committee accepted in full Bimkom’s planning objection to Sansana, which is a relatively new Jewish settlement in the West Bank. The settlement attempted to gain legal status as a neighborhood of the pre-existing settlement of Eshkolot. As a result of our objection, the settlement was not … read more
Bimkom and the Coalition for Affordable Housing objected to four large-scale housing projects: in Kiryat Gat, Afula and two in Jerusalem. As a result, smaller units were included as well as long term rentals in three of the four cases. We continue to advocate, vis-à-vis the court system, for government intervention in Israel’s untenable housing … read more
In April 2009, a plan was submitted by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) for the afforestation of the area north-west of the Bedouin township of Lakiya in the Negev. The plan did not take into account the existence of unrecognized villages in the area and, if approved, would have significantly limited the possibilities for development … read more
The village of Darejat was established over 200 years ago when its residents purchased the land from local Bedouins in the area. Darejat is a thriving Arab community with almost no unemployment. Most of the residents work in agriculture or are self-employed. The village includes an elementary school, medical clinic, “mother and baby” clinic, and a … read more
On Februrary 10th 2013, Bimkom along with residents in the working class neighborhood of Kiryat Yovel in Jerusalem, submitted its objection to the Municipality’s plan to raze the existing low-density buildings and replace them with high-density towers on Zionism Street. This plan of raze and rebuild, known as pinui-binui, is a government initiative which seeks … read more
