Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has reached agreement with heads of Israeli Arab municipalities, promising the ministry will not issue demolition orders for illegal construction. In return, the local leaders promised to halt all additional construction until the matter is rectified. Deri made his remarks to a session of the Knesset Interior Committee headed by MK David Amsellem.

Deri told committee members that today, there are 50,000 illegal structures in the Arab sector, some already slated for demolition by the government. An Arab MK stated about 1,000 are currently slated for demolition.

Deri has frozen demolitions and promises to work to reach agreement towards legalizing the illegal structures.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)