The procedure that allowed village mukhtars to approve land ownership for building permits has led to an extensive counterfeiting industry. The committee has now rejected dozens of such plans.
The "Mukhtar procedure", approved by the Jerusalem Municipality, has been opposed on grounds it would lead to an Arab takeover of land in the eastern part of the capital. The declaratory procedure allows Arabs to lay claim to land while testimonies could be fabricated with the intention of blocking Jewish land purchase.