Interior Minister Aryeh Deri signed an order on Thursday to turn the Arraba Local Council into an official Arab city in Israel. The new city will boast a population of some 22,800 people and have an area of 8.1 kilometers according to the Federation of  Local Authorities in Israel’s website.

Deri decided on the matter following a committee decisions to make the change, The public committee suggested the switch based upon the local council’s meeting of all the necessary standards to qualify for status as a city in Israel.

Deri said in a statement issued on Sunday, “I am very pleased that one of the first decisions that I am making as the new interior minister is to change the status of Arraba to a city. This decision is an important one for the Israeli Arab community, and its integration into the larger Israeli society.

Deri emphasized that the decision was made “following years in which the local council had continued to function, according to interior ministry statistics, with a proper balanced budget. The council also avoided any serious notations against it in yearly annual reports of the ministry. They have maintained a high level of tax collection, and complied with all of the standard laws for a local council.”

“I hope that the city of Arraba will continue to grow and develop for its inhabitants, and that it will strengthen the relationship between Jews and Arabs in Israel,” the Minister added.

Deri concluded by saying that he will work to strengthen all of the local authorities throughout Israel.