Even before the National Law and the Elimination of Violence, the most important issue for the leadership of the Arab public in Israel in coalition talks was the repeal of Amendment 116 to the Planning and Building Law, commonly known as the Kaminitz Law. This is a law that has provided more effective enforcement tools against illegal construction, which in the last 20 years has become a state strike under the rule of law.

Not "Regavim" thinks so, but the Supreme Court itself: "Construction and development actions that contravene the planning laws, harm the interests of individuals and the public alike ... Shut up from breaking the rule of law in one area of ​​human activity, which will undermine the law in the fields as well Respect for the law, and its implementation in every area, including in the field of planning and construction, are a necessary element of social existence and a condition for the proper functioning of it. "

The realization that this is a state strike and that enforcement agencies must provide effective tools for combating it led to the 2017 legislation. According to data presented by the National Knesset's Law Enforcement and Planning Unit, since the law came into force, illegal construction starts have dropped by 45 percent, enabling programs such as expanding northern electricity infrastructure, which is stuck due to illegal construction in Kalanswa, or realizing the potential of TA Tab / 3400 in Taibeh, currently only partially implemented due to illegal construction in the planning areas, with hundreds of illegal buildings being built every year in the Triangle, the Negev and the Galilee, taking control of the development reserves of all the communities in these areas, and severely impairing the values ​​of nature, landscape and quality. around the.

The massive illegal construction is first and foremost affecting the Arab public itself. Contrary to the claims of the heads of Arab authorities, who explain that the phenomenon is caused by a lack of planning by the state, there is an outline and subpoenas for many of the Arab communities, which allow them development and growth, but are not implemented on the ground. Why are these plans not implemented? You guessed it correctly. Tidy construction, including electricity, water, sewerage, green space, etc., is full of illegal construction that the heads of authorities are afraid to deal with.

Enforcement authorities have stated that priority is planning support for planning, namely the destruction of illegal construction that disrupts the implementation of outline plans for the Arab population. We would expect the Arab leadership to be the first to support the Kaminitz Law, which provides tools to streamline and stimulate the development of Arab authorities, but Arab leaders prefer to evade responsibility and push Arab Israeli citizens into the magic circle of non-planning and illegal construction leading to delinquency and neglect.

If indeed Blue and White pledged to abolish the Kaminitz Law, it is in fact the abandonment of the Negev, the Galilee and the triangle of illegal construction ramparts, which will first and foremost affect the Arab public, and will intensify the transformation of the periphery into the territory. It's not too late to stop it.

Yachin Zick is the director of operations for the Regavim movement