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Below is a collection of newspaper articles written over the past two months, in chronological
order. These articles reflect the range of worldviews that came together to oppose
Netanyahu’s land reform for various reasons.
After this collection of articles, more resources are included, for examination of this issue in
a broader sense.
Fearing riots, authorities cancel land tender in Jaffa
Guy Liberman, June 17, 2009, Haaretz
Last Wednesday the Israel Lands Administration canceled a tender to sell land in the seaside neighborhood
of Ajami, Jaffa, for fear of violent protests by Jews, or Arabs, or both. The problem was that the adjacent lot
had been sold to a Jewish religious organization, which sparked trouble in the chiefly Arab neighborhood.
The first tender had been won a month ago by a company called Bemuna, which describes itself as a
housing company for the religious public. That outcome outraged the Arab public in Jaffa. Beyond their
objection to the entrance of Jewish residents to Ajami, the Arabs were upset about the high prices the Israel
Lands Administration demanded for the land. The prices effectively block them from buying land in their
own city, they claim.
Their arguments evidently found an attentive ear at the Tel Aviv municipality, which is also in charge of
Jaffa - its official name is the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. "Even
though we understand the process was legal, and that there
is no room in a democratic country to place restrictions on
the purchase of land, I would like to remind you that in the
past, we expressed our opposition to [this] land being sold
on the open market," Mayor Ron Huldai wrote to the ILA.
Huldai went on to explain that the land being sold in the
second tender was one of the last lots available for
development in Ajami. It would be better used to build a
project for young families from the local Arab residents
who are having difficulty finding appropriate housing, the mayor suggested.
He asked the ILA to consider ways to sell the land to local residents, in a manner that would preserve the
delicate social fabric of Jaffa, "and prevent superfluous friction between the residents," Huldai wrote.
Gilad Peled, the director general at the Mashlema, the Tel Aviv municipality administration responsible for
the development of Jaffa, is aware of the problem. "A solution needs to be found for the poor community
living on expensive land, with little ability to move to other places," Peled said.
Following Huldai's plea, the ILA decided to comply. It canceled the second tender and is considering other
ways to market the land…
The Rabbis Got Confused, Danger Looms
By Yoel Ben Nun, Yediot Achronot, June 21, 2009
If the prime minister tries to forcefully evacuate our beloved sons from their hilltop
outposts, a resounding outcry will be heard among all those loyal to the Torah and Eretz
Yisrael, and it will not matter how the government acts towards the Americans who
support us in the UN against our enemies, or how our security forces plan to fight against