The Jerusalem Regional Planning and Building Commission is due to shortly decide on objections to the development plan submitted by the Israel Land Administration (ILA) for Givat Hamatos in southern Jerusalem. This is one of four plans for one of the last large land reserves in the city, located between the Arab neighborhood of Beit Zafafa and Hebron Road. The plan calls for the construction of 4,000 housing units.
The four plans have been stuck in the building commissions for 18 years, in part because of the multiple ownership of the land. The land now up for a decision is zoned for 2,500 apartments and public institutions. Residents of Beit Zafafa consider part of the land as reserves for the neighborhood's future development.
Bimkom Planners for Planning Rights community planning department director architect Efrat Cohen-Bar says that the plan's documents indicate that the new neighborhood is intended for Jewish residents, with Arab residents slated only along its edges.
"Globes": How is the plan's discrimination expressed?
Cohen-Bar: "This available land adjacent to Beit Zafafa is the last large land reserves in Jerusalem. We're talking about a neighborhood that will be mainly intended for Jews, without taking into consideration the needs of Beit Zafafa, and ignoring previous promises. Over the years, promises were made to Beit Zafafa community leaders that the land would be zoned for the neighborhood's expansion as well. In practice, only the margins of the new neighborhood are zoned for Beit Zafafa, and they are zoned for low density housing on smaller lots. Most of the high-density construction is intended for the Jewish sector, which can be seen from the fact that the public buildings are zoned for synagogues, mikvehs, and the like.
"Part of the private land in the plan is owned by local Arab residents, while part of it is owned by Jews and by the ILA."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 28, 2008
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