Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., February 14, 2008 Adar1 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:08 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Interior Ministry: Israel to okay new Arab city this year By Yoav Stern The Interior Ministry plans to submit to the government a proposal this year to build a new Arab city, Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit (Kadima) announced yesterday. If the plan goes through, it will be the first time such a city is built in Israel, aside from towns meant to absorb the Bedouin. "The aim is a modern city that any young couple will be able to buy a house in and live there, as in any other modern city in the world," Sheetrit said during a visit to Umm al-Fahm. Advertisement Sheetrit did not give details about where in the country the city would be built, but his office said the Galilee was the target area. The interior minister said planning committees have been working on the matter for a long time and are looking into several alternatives. Arab planning officials demanded yesterday that Arab representatives take part in planning the city. "The representatives of the Arab public are mature enough and know what they want," said Dr. Thabet Abu Ras, a geographer. Sheetrit's announcement was welcomed by Arab MKs and the cabinet's sole Arab minister, and opposed by the right. Science, Culture and Sport Minister Ghaleb Majadele (Labor) said the decision would strengthen Israeli Arabs' feeling of belonging to the country. "The government has internalized that the Arab population has equal rights," the Arab minister said. MK Talab al-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) said the move could set a precedent for resolving the housing crisis in Arab areas. On the right side of the spectrum, MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu) said it was "astounding" that the government would be planning an Arab city in the Galilee at the same time it is delaying and halting construction in Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem and the West Bank. "It appears that this government has lost its Zionism entirely," Rotem said. Right-wing MKs have supported the idea in the past, though, which some Arab officials attribute to their desire to keep Arabs from moving to Jewish cities in the Galilee. One such community is Kafr Qasem, which the Interior Ministry yesterday declared a city. A ministry committee recommended in 2005 that the local council become a municipality. Sheetrit adopted the recommendation a few weeks ago, putting it into practice during a ceremony yesterday. Yigal Hai contributed to this report. Bookmark to del.icio.us   What's up, doc? Hamas airs television show featuring 'Jew-eating' Bugs Bunny look-alikes. Gaza Trip Livni takes 70 ambassadors on a visit to the Gaza Strip as part of diplomatic campaign.

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