This article was originally published by Maan News and is republished with permission.

In its meeting on Sunday, the Israeli cabinet agreed to form a ministerial committee to examine proposals for establishing a new Arab city in the western Galilee. The idea was presented by Minister of Interior, Me'ir Sheetrit, and if the plans go through, it would be the first new Arab city since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.

In presenting the idea to the cabinet, Sheetrit argued that "there is a need to expand housing opportunities for non-Jewish citizens by establishing a new Arab city so that new married couples can buy houses there, as happens in any other country in the world."

It is expected that a committee including Arab representatives will propose recommendations for the new city by the end of this year.

There are 1.2 million Palestinian citizens of Israel, generally labeled Israeli Arabs in the Israeli media, out of a total Israeli population of 7 million. In general, Arab localities in Israel receive significantly less state assistance than Jewish localities, resulting in poorer services and inadequate infrastructure.

In addition, it is extremely difficult for Palestinian citizens in Arab towns inside Israel to obtain building permits from the Israeli authorities, and they are not eligible for government-built housing, leading to serious overcrowding.