Bimkom engages in on-the-ground work with local communities. We assist Palestinian communities in promoting viable solutions to their specific planning problems, including offering workshops to teach residents, both women and men, about their planning rights and the ways to actualize them. We build residents’ capacities to advance adequate solutions to specific planning problems and needs … read more
In 2004, the residents of al-Isawiyyah, together with Bimkom, began preparing a new outline plan for their neighborhood. The aim of the plan was to enable development, halt home demolitions and ensure a better future for the residents. A few months later, the residents of at-Tur also began drafting a plan for their neighborhood. Shortly … read more
Case Study: Um al-Rihan – a challenge to the SOPs In 2008 Bimkom submitted an objection to the Special Outline Plan (SOP) prepared by the Civil Administration (CA) for Um a-Rihan, a village with a population of some 500 residents. The SOP left several existing houses and the village school outside the boundaries of the … read more
In 2003, Kasr el-Ser, a Bedouin village in the Negev gained recognition from the Israeli government and became a part of the Abu Basma Regional Council. As such, the village has a statutory outline plan for its entirety, not no detailed plans, and therefore the village remains without connection to electricity or water, sewerage or proper roads. Through … 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
The lack of adequate plans in Arab localities with appropriate zoning and building provisions for housing have led to a chronic shortage of housing and severe overcrowding. Inadequate plans have also led to an increase in unauthorized building since in the absence of adequate plans residents cannot obtain building permits. Thus residents are subject to … 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
