Protest Against Israel's New Building and Planning Reform

On Tuesday, representatives from Green Course and other environmental organizations, including Green Movement, Meretz and Associations for Environmental Justice, came out to protest the Prime Ministers new planning and building reform. 

The bill is said to “increase the supply of land, create a national transportation network to connect the Negev to the Galilee, and stage a revolution in planning and construction”; however, many feel this is going to change the entire order and landscape of the country.  Green Course, and the other opposing organizations think the new reform will swallow Israel’s open space, and that the viable land will be lost to real estate and urban development.  As the Environmental Protection Minister wrote: "The bill may lead to severe injury to the environment, nature, open spaces and the quality of lives of the residents of Israel. Both I and the professionals in my office believe the proposal will prevent adequate planning of the state's lands, meddle with the planning hierarchy and limit proper public oversight on planning regulations."

Amid buildings under construction, protesters gathered, organized and dressed up before the march.  Protesters marched from Ibn Gvirol and Sderot Sha’ul HaMelech costumed as either construction workers or Prime Minister Netanyahu, with signs reading “This land belongs to all of us!” and “No to the reforms of the constructors!”.  Along the way, leaders of the environmental groups stopped and explained the objectives of the group and rallied the protestors, sparking excitement and chanting. 

The objectives of Green Course and the associated organizations include ensuring the conservation of open space, extend the public review period, and keep the three separate planning levels – local, district and national.

Support Green Course in the fight against this new reform!