Bimkom and the The Coalition for Affordable Housing published a position paper aimed at the National Housing Committees (NHC) and other policy shapers. The paper provides focused and practical information regarding possibilities in the NHC Law for providing a solution to the housing crisis in Israel and integrating affordable housing into the planned housing supply. The objective of … read more
“The Prohibited Zone” (2009) describes the reality of Area C life for Palestinians in terms of planning and construction and reveals the planning tools Israel uses to minimize the growth of the Palestinian population in Area C Read the full report here: Prohibited Zone Read the summary here: Prohibited Zone Abstract
The lives of Mahmoud Karain and his nine year old daughter Rawa, from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Batn al-Hawa are now somewhat easier. For nearly her entire life, Mahmoud has had to carry his severely disabled daughter up and down a treacherous path in order to meet the transport which brings Rawa to school. … read more
Following our objection, the Municipality changed the intended plans for the Jewish neighborhood of East Talpiot, to enable building a new and safer entrance to the Palestinian neighborhood of Um Laysoon. Thanks to our intervention, the Municipality has also agreed to allow for the improvement and expansion of the neighborhood’s cemetery. Return to Planning Assistance … read more
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
The process of planning and declaring national parks and nature reserves seems not only to further the protection of nature and heritage as well as high quality open spaces, but also to serve as an instrument for limiting the development of the built environment in Palestinian communities. Read the full report here: From Public to National
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
