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🇮🇱 Israel /Economy & Trade

Shifting priorities: Gov't to discuss moving NIS 568 m. from Arab sector development to Shin Bet

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The Israeli government plans to divert NIS 568 million from Arab sector development to fund Shin Bet and police operations against organized crime.
  • This proposed shift in priorities would redirect resources from economic development to enforcement and security activities.
  • The Mossawa Center is appealing the decision and considering legal action to prevent the budget reallocation.

The Israeli government is set to discuss a proposal to divert approximately NIS 568 million from a five-year plan aimed at developing Israel's Arab society. These funds are intended to bolster the activities of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the police in their fight against organized crime.

The move signals a significant shift in government priorities, potentially redirecting resources initially earmarked for economic development, employment initiatives, and closing socio-economic gaps within the Arab community. Instead, the funds would finance expanded intelligence gathering, enforcement capabilities, and technological tools to combat criminal organizations, weapons smuggling, and extortion.

The government is expected on Tuesday to discuss diverting some NIS 568 million from the five-year plan for developing Israel’s Arab society to fund Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) activity and the work of the police and other enforcement bodies against organized crime.

— Article TextStating the core proposal being discussed by the government.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Social Equality Minister May Golan are reportedly backing the inclusion of the Shin Bet, viewing it as a necessary measure given the high murder rates and low case-solving rates in Arab society. Government sources clarified that the Shin Bet's role would focus on serious crimes like weapons smuggling and incidents with security implications, rather than routine police work.

If approved, it would signal a shift in the government’s priorities toward Arab society: Resources intended for economic development, employment, and narrowing gaps would instead be directed to enforcement, intelligence, and security activity against criminal organizations.

— Article TextExplaining the implications of the proposed budget shift.

However, the proposal has drawn strong opposition. The Mossawa Center for the Rights of Arab Citizens has appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, demanding the plan be halted and threatening legal action if it proceeds. The center argues that this reallocation undermines efforts to empower Arab youth and develop the community.

This current proposal is a scaled-down version of earlier discussions, which considered diverting between NIS 1 billion and NIS 1.4 billion from the development plan. The budget is to be sourced from government decision 550, approved in 2021, which allocated funds for employment, education, infrastructure, and strengthening local authorities in Arab communities.

The Mossawa Center for the Rights of Arab Citizens appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, demanding that the move be stopped. It said it is considering legal action if the proposal is approved.

— Article TextDetailing the opposition's response to the government's plan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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