Interior Minister Moshe Arbel approved plans to establish a dedicated planning committee for the Druze and Circassian communities, the Interior Ministry shared on Thursday.
Arbel made the announcement during a visit to the Druze local authorities in Usfiya, Yarka, and Julis, accompanied by Sheikh Muwafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community.
Arbel confirmed that the recommendation for the committee came from the National Council for Planning and Building, and he fully endorsed the plan.
According to the ministry, the new initiative, which has resulted from months of planning, marks a historic development. For the first time since Israel’s founding, a specialized committee with the authority of a district planning committee will focus on advancing master plans and blueprints to regulate construction and development in line with the unique needs of the Druze and Circassian communities.
Its goal is to fix planning issues, reduce bureaucracy, and create a flexible, community-specific planning system with full representation from the Druze and Circassian communities. The committee will collaborate with local authorities and government ministries.
'A step toward correcting a historical injustice'
In a statement, Arbel said that creating a dedicated planning committee for the Druze and Circassian communities "is a step toward correcting a historical injustice and fostering a sense of partnership and responsibility. It is unacceptable in 2025 that entire communities continue to face planning barriers that impede their development."
He continued, "I wholeheartedly support the National Council’s recommendation, driven by my deep commitment to equality, planning fairness, and true partnership with the Druze and Circassian communities.”
Tarif thanked Arbel for his support, “We extend our congratulations to Minister Arbel for the creation of the dedicated planning and construction committee for the Druze and Circassian communities. We also commend him for his unwavering support for the Druze community.”