Last update - 00:00 08/05/2007
Israel Lands Administration accused of discriminating against Arabs
By Jack Khoury
A recent tender by the Israel Lands Administration (ILA) for the leasing of building lots in the Galilee is generating discontent among Arab rights activists, who claim that the administration is systematically discriminating against Arabs.
The bone of contention is 13 lots in Karmiel registered to the Jewish National Fund. The ILA has recently issued a tender for the marketing of these lots to potential leasers.
However, the Jewish National Fund in forbidden from leasing its lands to non-Jews, as stipulated in its treaty cosigned by the state.
The ILA tried to issue a tender for the marketing of these lands - along with other lots - in 2004, but was ordered by the court to revise the tender so that Arabs may also participate, or to cancel it altogether. The ILA opted for the latter.
The Arab Center for Alternative Planning (ACAP), a non-profit organization dedicated to representing the interests of Arab Israelis on issues of planning, land, housing, and development, claims the new tender is an attempt to circumvent the court's ruling.
The ILA retorted that Arabs are allowed to participate in the tender, that it is available to all Karmiel citizens of at least three years.
The latter prerequisite, however, effectively bars Arab contenders, as Karmiel is home to few Arabs.
In case an Arab were to win the tender, the ILA admits that it would cause a legal complication due to the Jewish National Fund's restrictions. "If this occurs, we'll find a solution," the ILA assured Haaretz, adding that the tender will go on as planned.
What could serve to nix the tender is a petition by ACAP to the High Court of Justice to allow all Israeli citizens to lease lands registered to the Jewish National Fund.
However, the ILA told Haaretz that it would not delay the tender until the court's ruling.