New committee forms to connect Druze, Circassian homes to Israel's power grid, legalize homes

A committee to connect Druze and Circassian communities to Israel's power grid and legitimize unauthorized structures will be established, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced in a meeting on Tuesday.

The plan presented proposed legislative action to legally connect members of these communities to Israel's electric system. Nearly 10,000 Druze homes are connected to the electric grid in an unauthorized manner, according to previous statements from Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, leader of the Druze community.

The proposed plan will have the authority of a regional committee and will act as a planning organization for the Druze community. The committee's goal is to legitimize the status of most houses in Druze communities within the next five years.

Plan seeks to strengthen bond between communities

The initiative will be overseen by the PMO, as well as various regional community leaders. 

"The plan reflects the importance that the State of Israel places on its strong alliance with the Druze and Circassian communities," said Yossi Shelly, Director-General of the PMO, in a statement. "It's time to regularize planning processes that have taken many years and to strengthen the bond of the shared destiny between us."

The committee's proposed planning policy will serve as a framework for approving future expansion and building plans.