land, in addition to 1122 new housing units in the aforementioned neighborhoods.326 The validation of Tamal map 1077 is subject to certain conditions. In the larger scheme of things, this approval of a detailed map in a select few areas of Umm al-Fahm does not make a substantial difference to the discriminatory planning policies that have prevailed over the past decades - even more so because the approved detailed map still stipulates the creation of a forest on Palestinian private lands.327 Notably, Umm al-Fahm remains the only local authority in Wadi ‘Ara area whose Local Master Plan was never comprehensively approved although it is the largest locality by a considerable margin. This is consistent with Israel’s persistent delays and refusal to provide approvals to other large Palestinian communities.328 • No appropriate Local Planning Committee: Although a city of this size would normally warrant having a local planning committee of its own, Umm al-Fahm remains part of a local planning and building committee that encompasses a cluster of villages in Wadi ‘Ara; namely Umm alFahm, Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Jat, Ma’ale Iron, Basma, Ara, Ar’ara and Kafr Qari’a.329 Since cluster committees include government representatives with advisory functions and a right to appeal to the Appeals Committee at the district level,330 the inclusion of Umm al-Fahm within the scope of a cluster planning committee allows Israel to retain greater control over both planning decision-making and the approval of local plans. This generates a discrepancy between approved plans and the residents’ actual needs, and thus further hampers urban development. • Dependent on highly localized “Detailed Plans”: In a bid to rectify the issue of ‘illegal’ construction, the Umm al-Fahm Municipality which was formed in 1984, started obtaining approvals for more localized area specific ‘Detailed Plans’. Since these are for confined areas, these plans largely reflect the status quo, do not factor in future development needs, and do nothing to address the broader public interest considerations for a large and expanding city. 326 Ibid. 327 See “The Al-Fathmal Committee Approves the Deposit of the 1077 Structural Map,” Umm el-Fahm Municipality website, available at: http://www.umelfahem.org/inner.asp?root=105&RecordID=4138 [accessed 28 February 2020]. 328 Planners for Planning Rights and The Arab Center for Alternative Planning, “Outline Planning for Arab Localities in Israel: Summary,” (BIMKOM and ACAP, 2012), available at: http://bimkom.org/eng/wpcontent/uploads/Outline-Planning-for-Arab-Localities-in-Israel-English2.pdf 329 OECD, supra 282, 132. 330 Id. 28-29. 83