Most of Israel’s mixed cities face complex social and economic challenges while representing some of the greatest opportunities to strengthen Jewish-Arab relations. In recent years, American-style community development models are being explored as a way to connect affordable housing projects to broader urban revitalization and social cohesion goals.
In January, the Ramat Eshkol neighborhood in Lod, one of Israel’s lowest-income neighborhoods, will be the site of a public-private revitalization pilot, including mixed-income housing, public schools and facilities, and social services. Can such projects address the needs of a mixed Jewish and Arab population? Will this new model effectively enhance economic opportunities?