Merhav - Creating Opportunities for Better Urbanism

MERCHAV promotes the understanding and importance of urbanism in Israel, to improve regional planning, and advocate for smart growth. About 93% of Israeli residents live in urban settlements. The impact of the urban environment on our quality of life therefore affects most of the Israeli population. Most of the cities in Israel are planned and built so that residents have limited economic, social and cultural opportunities. Their potential as individuals or as a community is not being realized. MERCHAV works in parallel with similar organizations around the world, and is considered to be one of principal organizations promoting environmental quality and the protection of open space in Israel. MERCHAV focuses solely on the built urban environment. MERCHAV activists are urban-planners, economists, architects, entrepreneurs, landscape architects, academics, community workers, transport planners, environmentalists, sociologists, attorneys, appraisers, public workers, and non-professionals. All who love urbanism and believe that the city is an essential concept for social and economic development, will find in MERCHAV fertile ground to collaborate, and promote their urban agenda. Vision An urban living environment which will provide a variety of opportunities of employment, housing, leisure, education and services within a walking distance; creating a balance between uses; sustainable renewal to reduce social and economic gaps will be promoted; a sense of belonging, identity and involvement will be promoted; conducted with transparency, containment and trust.