Success! Jisr a-Zarka residents can finally breathe
17/01/18
We did it! After 11 years of determined and unrelenting struggle by the residents, and thanks to the pressure of thousands of Zazim members, the District Planning Committee finally approved a new master plan for the town of Jisr a-Zarka! Like many Arab towns, Jisr a-Zarka suffers from decades of neglect from authorities that have left it trapped between Jewish communities and the Mediterranean sea, with severe overcrowding and no room to build. Now, after so many years, the residents of Jisr a-Zarka will finally have room to breathe! Throughout the process, the wealthy town of Caesarea, which borders Jisr to the south, fought the new development plan and a critical access road to Jisr. They used their lawyers to try and block the plan at every turn, and to tilt the conversation away from helping Jisr’s residents. But we didn’t let that happen. Thousands of Zazim members appealed to the relevant agencies and sent personal letters to the head of the District Planning Committee, urging them to approve the plan. And using small donations from hundreds more members, we placed flyers directly in the mailbox of every resident of Caesarea relaying an important message: Caesarea must learn how to share - and support the new plan will benefit all the area’s residents. [caption id="attachment_2641" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Flyers delivered to residents of Caesarea[/caption]This is what Murad Amash, Jisr’s local council head, had to say: “I want to thank the Zazim community from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for standing with us and supporting us throughout this long struggle. This is an incredible achievement, and though the plan is not perfect, I am hopeful and confident that the Zazim community will continue to be there for us as we transform Jisr a-Zarka into a successful and thriving town.”Thanks to the residents’ persistence and the pressure of thousands of Zazim members, the District Planning Committee acknowledged the urgent need to develop the densely populated town, and added over 150 acres to the town’s municipal borders - which will provide much needed new housing and allow for a critical access road. Yet, over a decade passed since the plan was first submitted, and it therefore does not reflect the full needs of the town. Moreover, the budget for the access road still needs approval from a separate agency.This win is a hugely important step for the future of Jisr a-Zarka, but we know we can’t stop here. We will monitor the implementation and continue to work with Jisr’s residents, and together ensure a brighter future for all the area’s residents.