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Arab-Israeli town gets development plan at last

Umm al-Fahm became the first Arab-Israeli locality to sign an agreement for 15,000 new housing units and large development projects.
AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

For the first time ever, the State of Israel signed a comprehensive development agreement with a local Arab municipal authority. On Sept. 13, the town of Umm al-Fahm signed an agreement with the Finance Ministry and the Israel Land Authority to add 15,000 new housing units to the town over the next few years, as well as several commercial and employment centers on both state- and privately owned properties. The total cost of the deal is estimated to run to 800 million shekels ($250 million).

The deal is a milestone for the residents of Umm al-Fahm and all of Arab-Israeli society. For years, Arab-Israelis have suffered from a severe housing shortage as well as a sharp rise in violence and crime, issues that state and local authorities have seemed to ignore. The Sept. 13 agreement will expedite the development and growth of Israel’s third-largest Arab town by creating housing solutions for its residents.

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