by Shimon Yaish
Whereas land tenders are limited to local residents in Arab communities, in Jewish communities such as Katzir, Poria Illit, Immanuel and Metula are open to any citizen.
An Israel Hayom review of the some 200
state land tenders featured on the Israel Land Authority website has
found that the authority systematically limits tenders for land in Arab
communities to "local residents."
According to ILA policy, in tenders for
small communities or communities located in national priority areas,
some of the land can be earmarked for existing community members before
being offered to the general population. In minority communities,
however, up to 100% of land is often earmarked for locals.
Of the 200 current and former tenders
Israel Hayom examined, it emerged that in minority communities, tenders
for land are limited exclusively to the construction of single-family
homes for "locals." This is true of smaller Arab communities like Deir
Hanna, Tuba-Zangariyye, Yanuh-Jat, Kisra-Sumei, but also in the major
Arab city of Sakhnin, where the population numbers 30,000.
In contrast, tenders in Jewish communities
like Katzir, Poria Illit, Immanuel, Metula and even Savyon are open to
any citizen interested in submitting an application to purchase land.
Sources involved in the tender process
explained to Israel Hayom that one of the reasons behind the ILA policy
on land allocation was to "maintain the status and preserve the
character of the Arab communities."
Jewish buyers have expressed frustration at
being restricted from purchasing land in Arab communities, as the
tenders are offered solely to minority buyers.
One Jewish buyer argued that "these lands
should be offered to everyone, because they are everyone's. It belongs
as much to us as it belongs to those Arab residents. This is infuriating
discrimination. Even if there aren't a lot of Jews who want to live in
Arab communities, the state must make this an option. And if it is not
an option, they should restrict similar tenders in Jewish communities
for locals only."
"This is quite simply a distorted reality
where they can buy everything here and we cannot," the businessman said.
"We don't understand how it makes sense that they [Arabs] can buy land
in [the Jewish communities of] Afula or Nes Ziona and we can't submit an
offer for a tender in Jat. Later, there are even accusations that the
Arab population in Israel are discriminated against."
In a statement, the ILA said it issued land
tenders for single-family homes in Sakhnin and in similar communities
in the north for locals "with the aim of ensuring the lands would reach
local residents without housing, including members of the security
forces, and not developers who seek to turn a profit. It should be noted
that the allocation of lands by the ILA is done in an egalitarian
manner and in accordance with the policies determined by the ILA's
governing council. This policy is consistent with the policies of the
government of Israel, its laws and the procedures established in the
courts."
According to the ILA, "The allocation of
lands to locals is done in accordance with the provisions of the law for
all citizens regardless of nationality, religion, race or gender. But
it is natural and self-evident that in Jewish communities, a majority of
locals are Jews, and in Arab communities the locals are Arabs. The rate
and extent of land allocation to local residents, whether by public
tender or in the framework of registration or lotteries, is based on the
size of the community, its geographical location, the national priority
area to which it belongs, and other characteristics."
"In small communities with unique
characteristics, a large part [of the land] is marketed to locals. The
bigger the community, the smaller the percentage of [land] that is
marketed to locals. As part of general government policy, the rate of
locals in minority communities is higher than the rate of locals in
communities that are not minority communities," the authority explained.
Shimon Yaish
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/06/21/review-of-israel-land-sales-reveals-discrimination-against-jews/
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