On November 12, 2021, 30 graduates of SFP change agents courses, who are now members of the Arab-Jewish Planners Forum, met for a study tour and discussion in Acre.

The meeting began with a tour led by Ashraf Amer, a social activist in Acre. The tour began at Shatt al-Arab – Horse Beach and proceeded to various areas in Old Acre.  Ashraf presented the institutional processes that drive the Palestinian population (most of which dates back till at least 1948) out of Old Acre. Ashraf described several such processes: the sale of properties belonging to the Old Acre Development Company (in which the tenants enjoyed protected status) to wealthy people who convert the apartments into B & Bs; the sale by the company of public properties, such as Khan al-Umdan, to private owners (the khan is intended to be converted into a boutique hotel); and the allocation of properties to Jewish settlement associations such as the Ayalim Association. In addition, he described processes of evacuating the residents from their homes under the false claim that the buildings are in danger of collapse. In parallel, restrictions are placed on the renovation and maintenance of such houses, so that a reasonable living environment is not possible.

During the tour we visited a public square that is being advanced by the Placemaking Project, in the El Shuna neighborhood. The project was the initiative of the Acre 5000 group, in partnership with a group of forum graduates, and is being managed today by Hazar Badin, in cooperation with the Arab Center for Alternative Planning (ACAP). The residents, in coordination with the municipality, are requesting funding for renovation.

The public square, despite physical neglect, is today being used by locals for football games and family and community events. In accordance with the plan proposed by the activists and alumni of the forum, these current uses will be preserved but enhanced by providing the residents’ comfort, safety and sense of belonging. The interventions, to be carried out in collaboration with the residents, will include preservation works, the adding of benches, shading, lighting and more.

The day’s activities ended with a lecture by Hazar Badin on the planning processes in Acre. Rather than providing a planning response to the needs of the Palestinian population in Acre, the city favors the establishment of new neighborhoods for Jewish religious groups.

Following the lecture, we engaged in a discussion concerning the processes of urban renewal that are being promoted by the municipality and the Or movement (a settlement movement). It plans to turn the British Mandate area of Acre into a new business, culture and tourism district. The main topic discussed was how forum members can support local activists and civil society groups to promote change, as well as how to harness political power in this struggle. It was agreed that the mixed cities group would begin collecting materials and a meeting was scheduled for discussion.

We would like to thank Hazar Badin and Ashraf Amar, who helped to organize the meeting and led the tour and discussion.

Regards,

Shlomit Sonnenstein (architect).

Coordinator of the Jewish-Arab Planners Forum

Photos by Naama Ringel