Arab-Israeli municipal leaders warn against Ben-Gvir, budget cuts
In a letter sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an umbrella organisation representing Arab-Israeli municipalities expressed fear with the appointment of Itamar Ben-Gvir as National Security Minister.
MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of Israel’s Otzma Yehudit party, speaking to reporters in Jerusalem on Oct. 30, 2022. Photo by Shalev Shalom/TPS.
The group voiced concerns that funds earmarked for narrowing social gaps in the Arab sector will be dramatically slashed.
The letter was sent on Sunday by the National Committee of the Heads of Arab Local Authorities.
It criticised the expanded authorities granted to Ben-Gvir, who is responsible for public security, law enforcement and corrections, putting the police and prison service among the institutions under his authority.
The letter insisted that Ben-Gvir “holds religious, political and racist positions against the Arab public, its leaders and positions,” adding, “the Arab public’s ability to work with him in good faith is nonexistent.”
The committee warned, “These things may raise the level of confrontation.”
Arab-Israeli municipal leaders are also worried that the government’s coalition agreements will cripple a five-year plan instituted by the previous government. In 2021, then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett passed a 30 billion-shekel (A$13.6 billion) socioeconomic development program for the Arab community. It includes initiatives for increasing access to health care and housing and fighting crime.
According to the letter, “The Ministers of Finance and National Security will be able to direct resources at the expense of budgets for the economic development of the Arab society.”
The letter calls on Netanyahu to “Stop the steps and the coalition agreements and support the Arab authorities” and emphasises that the committee is “ready to confront the government’s policy by all legitimate means and at all levels.”
Committee chairman Mohammad Barakeh told the Tazpit Press Service, “I support all the [committee’s] measures. Netanyahu should not have allowed Kahane’s orphans into his government from the beginning.”
