Jerusalem protest tent - where are the Arabs?
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Arab sector apathetic over housing crisis
In spite of suffering from same housing shortage as rest of country, Israeli Arabs seem uninterested in pitching up tents in protest
As the "tent city" protest expands and gains strength in Jewish cities throughout Israel, in Israel's Arab cities there is not a tent in sight. The Arab sector is also suffering from the housing crisis mainly because of the demolition of houses and high prices yet the protest has failed to take off.
Speaking to Ynet, Mohammad Abu al-Hija from Tamra in the north said that he was very angry at people in his sector over their general apathy to wave of price hikes that have hit the country. "I don't know when the Arab public will wake up already. I'm very disappointed with the fact that we don't have any protest activities.
- Receive Ynetnews updates directly
to your desktop
"It isn't just the Jewish sector of society that is suffering from the rise in prices the Arab sector is suffering too, and more so."
Children of Revolution?
Omri Ephraim
Jerusalem follows in Tel Aviv's footsteps as over 1,000 'affordable housing protest' activists take demonstration against housing prices to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence and then to Knesset; demand 'revolution'
Al-Hija went on to accuse Israeli Arab leaders who he claims, do nothing for the public. "Sadly Arab leaders and Knesset Members aren't lifting a finger on the issue.
"I am battling against the housing problem in the Arab sector, especially for young couples," he said and called on young Israeli Arabs to pitch up protest tents and take part in the struggle against housing prices. "I also call on MKs to participate and help us. I remind them that the revolution in the Arab world is being led by the younger generation."
According to a socio-economic survey for 2010 carried out by the Galilee Society's Rikaz Databank, the real estate problem in Arab towns and cities is more severe when compared with the rest of the country.
Among other things the survey points to the fact that 46.8% of the Arab public will not be able to acquire a home within the next ten years.
In light of the National Housing Committee Law, MK Hanna Swaid (Hadash) sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he wrote: "The law actively excludes Arab towns from the areas that can benefit or profit from the steps to improve the efficiency of the planning process for housing and accommodation solutions.
"Two conditions in the law to classify a program as a national housing project i.e – over 200 housing units and over 80% of the land is state owned land are not usual characteristics of Arab towns and cities."
Thus, he claims: "Arab towns are not included in the sectors set to enjoy the bill, in spite of the housing crisis being more acute in the Arab sector. Therefore I turn to you and ask that the law be amended so that Arab towns benefit from the National Housing Law like other sectors in the State."
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
