The Arab-Jewish planners’ forum
On 19 June 2018, the Arab-Jewish forum for planners and architects held their meeting at Oasis of peace for the third time. This forum was founded by graduates from our courses for both Jewish and Arab planners and architects as change agents, which are conducted by the school of peace in collaboration with the Arab Center for Alternative Planning during the last three years.
The forum lead by Ranin Audah and Ofir Fichman dealt with three subjects: stopping the spreading of Harish on the lands of Arab towns on Wadi Ara, against the removal of Khan Al Ahmar residents and a raising awareness project near residents of Arab inhabitants toward planning subjects and its problems.
Working on the projects was aided by Shahira Shalabi. The graduates are remarkably committed to notions of justice and equality in the planning field, as a result of the meeting two letters were composed one directed to the Defense Minister calling for stopping houses demolishing at Alkhan Alahmar, the second directed to the planning director calling to stop the extension of the legality of the special committee for planning and building in Harish.
This committee is a non-democratic process which takes away from Wadi Ara residants the right to participate in making decisions regard the open spaces intended for Wadi Ara’s development.