*the AC-AP representatives submitted their notes and a position paper regarding the suggested reform in the building and planning law
 
On Monday, 12\10\2009, representatives from ACAP met with head of the policy planning department in the prime minister's office in Jerusalem.  This meeting was requested by ACAP to discuss the new law that is being prepared by the government to make changes to the existing building and planning law from the year 1965.
 
ACAP representatives presented their position on the suggested changes and its effect on Arab towns in the country.  They affirmed that the law cannot truly be reformed without taking into consideration the current planning problems in Arab towns that originated from the current building and planning law.
 
ACAP presented the important problems in this field regarding the Arab towns:
1)     The need to handle the issue of illegal building: where most of the Arab towns lack new and approved Master plans.  Most of the planning for these towns is based on plans developed over 20 years ago and are irrelevant to the current reality. Thus, ACAP suggested finding a mechanism to deal with this problem.
2)     The need to coordinate the relationship between local authorities and the regional planning committee: where a large portion of the Arab local authorities are submissive, planning wise, to the regional planning committees and the relationship with the local authorities, administrative wise, is limited to overseeing the building process and enforcing any illegal building activity.  These committees do not use their responsibility with citizens in terms of making appropriate plans that meets their needs.   Thus, ACAP suggested the need to make reforms in this aspect of the law while taking in consideration the need to balance between the power these committees have and the responsibilities they have towards the citizens.
ACAP also suggested the need to give the local authorities a much bigger role since they are elected bodies and speak on behalf of the citizens. And so, the responsibilities and budgets should be divided fairly between the local authorities and the regional planning committees.
 
3)     The representative noted the need to take into consideration the characteristics of Arab towns: in terms of the difficult socioeconomic conditions they live in and in terms of the fact that more than 90% of jurisdictional area of the local authorities are in private hands.  As a result, this makes it difficult to develop the area for the public interest. The Malster plan for these towns ignore this parameter.
 
On the other hand, ACAP representatives affirmed the importance of the reform that intends to give more power to the local planning committees which will have a positive effect in terms of reducing bureaucracy and democratizing the planning process.  However, in order to be effective, this suggestion must be followed by other important steps, such as giving appropriate local authorities the ability to act like a local planning committee in every sense of the word including the necessary power and resources. On the other hand, it is necessary to coordinate the relationship between local authorities that don't have the criteria to become a planning committee and the regional planning committee.
At the end of the meeting, ACAP representatives stressed the need to include other Arab bodies, especially the Head of the Higher Follow Up Committee of Arab Mayors, in the discussions regarding the suggested reform, so that these bodies would get a chance to express their views on the matter.  ACAP also called for continued discussion and consulting with ACAP regarding all issues that concern Arab citizens.
 
ACAP will continue to follow this matter, and give regular updates to the public