Information about Land Struggles

The organization began to act against the inequality in relation to land distribution during the 90’s. As a result of precedent high court ruling the issue was raised up to public discussion for the first time. This court ruling is one of the organization’s meaningful achievements in social related issues in the past several years.

Following is a description of the organization’s projects in issues related to land rights and the right for housing:

1.1 Public Housing: During the 90’s Hakeshet Hademocratit played a major role in passing 3 laws that created a meaningful change in regards to Public Housing (buying and renting) rights. The first, “The Public Housing Law” from 1998. The second, “Public House Tenants Rights Law” from 1998 and third, “The Public House Tenants Regulations” from 2000. The last two determines specifications in regards to ongoing maintenance of public houses during their renting time in public rent. During 2003 Hakeshet acted against the Government suggested nation’s annual budget for 2004 and also against the Law of Regulations. These two government initiatives severely affect the people living in public housing. The Regulation Law completely cancels The Public Housing Law and the budget itself gravely affects the rights and benefits of public housing residents in issues related to buying and renting homes. Hakeshet operated lobby activities at the Kenesset in order to stop the national budget proposition and the Regulation Law.

1.2 Activity as Part of the Lands Forum: On August 28^th 2002 the Israeli Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Keshet’s appeal and against the Israel Lands Administration decision no. 727, 737 and 727 in account of it being unreasonable. During 2003 as part of the Land Forum, whose members include: “Bamakom”, Adam, Teva Ve Din and the Human Right Society, a High Court petition is submitted on the "Passage Orders”. The aim of the petition is to minimize as much as possible the passage orders of the Israeli Lands Administration. These orders enable to implement many programs that change land destinations from agricultural to non-agricultural use. Many of these programs were stopped as a result of the petition. The court discussion on the subject took place during 2003. In addition, Hakeshet decided, as part of the Land Forum, on submitting two additional petitions: the first, Supreme Court Decision 727 “new” in regards for compensations for agriculture land that’s destination was changed (the decision that replaced decision 727 that was canceled by the supreme court). The second, Supreme Court Attribution of Housing territory. The organization supports writing the private house on the name of the farmer’s in light of the regulations decided upon in the Public House Law but fights against regulations that provides benefits for changing a lands destination.

1.3 The Dankner Deal: On October 22^nd 2003 the Israel Lands Administration authorized the agreement between Israel’s Salt Company and Dankner family. The agreement enabled to change the destiny of 2000 dunams, owned by the Dankner family that were used to the production of salt in Atlit and Eilat into housing land. As a result of this change in the land’s destiny the Dankner family will make tens of millions of shekels. This is an outrageous and unprecedented deal in regards to the scope of land and its worth. On November 17^th 2003 Hakeshet held a conference on “Land, Wealth and Government”, as a campaign to begin the “Dankner Deal” struggle.

1.4 The Civic Agreement Forum for the Examination of Land Related Issues: The goal of this project is to create a platform for discussions among different sectors of the Israeli society on issues relating to just distribution and equality on issues relating to land distribution and public housing in Israel. This initiative calls upon social organizations and other groups to come together and create a new land policy in Israel that is based on solidarity, equality and distributional justice. In 2003 Hakeshet held meeting with a variety of organizations including: Musawa and friends from the Kibbutz Movement in order to promote the project.