MK office located in illegal Umm al-Fahm building
Despite a court order to demolish an illegally built structure in the Arab village of Umm al-Fahm, MK Yousef Jabareen from the Joint List continues to hold office in it.
The parliamentary office of MK Yousef Jabareen (Joint List), which located in the northern Arab town of Umm al-Fahm and funded by the Knesset, is housed in an illegal structure that has been slated for demolition since 2012, according to pro-settler NGO Regavim.
“We received word that an MK was leasing an illegal space,” Regavim said in a statement. “It didn't make sense to us, but we sent out a team... to check it out,” verifying the claim.
When approached for comment, MK Jabareen initially said he was not familiar with the story and asked for a chance to look into the matter.
Later on, his office also issued an official response: “There is no (building) plan set in place anywhere in Umm al-Fahm due to a continued oversight by the Haifa Regional Planning and Building Committee. Recently, in July 2016, a plan was put together by the joint efforts of several offices and initiated by the Ministry of Interior. The building where the office is located is meant for business and commerce. The plan is due to be approved, after which we will be able to issue permits. This will likely resolve (the issue of) thousands of buildings in Umm al-Fahm that have yet to receive permits due to the institutional roadblocks, set down by the planning authorities.”
Jabareen also noted the source of the allegation, namely, Regavim. “Its activists are settlers, and they continually work to sow hatred and incitement against the Arab public and its representatives. The NGO’s work in protecting the Settlement Enterprise is familiar to us, in addition to its call to destroy structures in Arab communities.”
The Knesset responded to the allegation, as well. “When renting out space for a parliamentary office, the MK signs a deposition that stipulates that the designated space has a legal permit necessary for an office. The Knesset will look into the matter.”
