Minister Sheetrit. Committed
Photo: Ofer Amram
MK Swaid. A town in space?
Photo: Hagai Aharon
'Maybe they'll build it on moon'
Government official announces location of planned new Arab town, but MKs pessimistic
The new Arab town to be constructed in northern Israel will be built near the community of Jadida near Highway 70 in the Western Galilee region, Housing and Construction Ministry official Ilan Taichman announced Tuesday.
Taichman said the plan includes the construction of 7,000 residential units and has already been approved by the district committee for planning and construction. He added that the plan to build a new Arab town near Highway 70 has been discussed for five years now, but it's unclear why authorities delayed its implementation.
The Plan
Tani Goldstein
Minister Sheetrit announces plan to found new Arab city in Israel's north for first time since state's inception. 'I believe him and this sounds serious; this is a tremendously important step,' Arab official says
However, several Knesset members said that even though they are lauding the initiative, they are skeptical on the prospects of the new town actually being built. Hadash Knesset Member Hanna Swaid said that "perhaps they'll find room to build it on the moon," and added that while Construction and Housing Minister Meir Sheetrit had good intentions, ministers change and bureaucratic officials are the ones who in fact set the policy.
Meanwhile, Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi said that "an Arab town will not be established, because the Israeli government is uninterested in it."
Sheetrit vows to see town built
Ministry officials also expressed doubts over the plan's implementation during Tuesday discussion at the Knesset. Interior Ministry Planning Administration Director Shamai Asif said that Israel is already very crowded and that the National Planning and Construction Committee's tendency is not to allow the establishment of new communities.Asif also spoke of concerns that a new Arab town will attracted wealthier population groups from existing Arab towns, thus worsening their problems, "as was the case with Jerusalem and Lod following Modi'in's establishment."
However, Minister Sheetrit responded that "with all due respect to bureaucratic officials, the minister is the one who formulates policy, and if I announced that an Arab town will be established, it will happen – and there will be no argument about it."
