Dismantling government investments in Israeli Arab society - opinion

The Jerusalem Post highlights a concerning trend of dismantling governmental investments in Israel's Arab community, a move that stands in stark contrast to the vision of national unity and shared prosperity. President Isaac Herzog's plea at the Givat Haviva Shared Society Conference underscores the existential importance of these programs for education and welfare within Arab society.

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It is forbidden to harm the essential multiyear plan, whose contributions to education and welfare in Arab society is truly existential.

However, the article points to a determined campaign by key ministers, including Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, to curtail budgets that support Arab citizens. This is particularly frustrating for figures like Hassan Towafra, who previously led the Authority for Economic Development of the Arab Community (AEDA). Towafra, a staunch advocate for the integration of Arab citizens into Israel's economy and society, views these budget cuts as a significant impediment to progress.

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The main challenge for the Authority [AEDA] is the current government.

Towafra's perspective, shaped by his experience guiding Government Resolution 550, emphasizes that Israel's true prosperity is intrinsically linked to the full inclusion of its Arab citizens. He argues that equal rights, quality education, strong municipalities, and meaningful employment opportunities for Arabs will benefit the entire nation. This viewpoint, shared with organizations like the Task Force on Arab Citizens of Israel, contrasts sharply with the current government's apparent direction, raising questions about the future of inter-community relations and national cohesion within Israel.

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Israel cannot truly prosper without the full inclusion of its Arab citizens with equal rights, quality education, strong municipalities, and meaningful employment opportunities. When we achieve this, it is not only the Arab community that will thrive, it is Israel as a whole.