Abu Ghosh.
Photo: AP
New apartments in Abu Ghosh marketed to east J'lem residents, locals protest
The Arab-Israeli town known for having a cooperative and friendly relationship with its Jewish neighbors fears an ideological shift, as new housing units in the area are being targeted for sale to non-locals.
The government of Israel is marketing hundreds of new housing units in the Jerusalem-area town of Abu Ghosh, but it's doubtful if local residents will be able to purchase them.
According to town leaders, the Ministry of Construction and Housing has begun marketing these apartments in violation of prior agreements, which means residents of east Jerusalem may be their intended buyers. The ministry claims that a certain portion of the apartments is meant only for Abu Ghosh residents.
Abu Ghosh. Locals are worried about housing for the next generation. (Photo: Shlomi Cohen)
"Over decades, we, the residents of Abu Ghosh 'blue and white' (the colors of the Israeli flag. -ed), pride ourselves in a shared life with Jews of the area and in peace, and now the government is marketing the last land reserves in the town in a way that will cause a significant change to the texture of life in the town, and even cause a security problem," Raed Ibrahim, a member of the Abu Ghosh Local Council said Friday.
According to head of the Abu Ghosh Local Council Issa Jaber, one of the reasons for the unique nature of Abu Ghosh is its demographic stability: Very few of its residents tend to leave, and very few outsiders tend to move into the town.
The Ministry of Construction and housing responded by saying, "The ministry is publishing construction bids in Abu Ghosh for the first time in about 20 years, in order to answer the great housing crisis of local youths. As part of this, varied plans – in pricing and construction type – will be put in place in Abu Ghosh."
