Arab Community Welfare Budgets See Only 24% Execution Rate

A new report by the equality center "Musaawa" reveals a significant gap between welfare budgets allocated by the Israeli government for the Arab community and the actual spending between 2022 and 2024. The report indicates that only 24% of the targeted budget was executed during the first three years of the government's "Progress" plan, citing ongoing obstacles that prevent allocated funds from reaching citizens in Arab localities.

The government's Resolution No. 550, known as the "Progress" plan, committed 615 million shekels to the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security over five years to reduce gaps, combat poverty, and enhance social services in the Arab community. The plan targeted an investment of 369 million shekels for the first three years. However, Musaawa's data shows the ministry allocated only 205 million shekels during this period, with actual spending reaching just 88.4 million shekels, or 24% of the three-year target. Spending as a percentage of the ministry's total allocations was 43.1%.

Spending fluctuated between 2022 and 2024, with 23.7 million shekels spent in 2022, rising to 41.7 million in 2023, and then falling to 23 million in 2024. This decline in 2024 occurred despite an increase in the allocated budget for that year to 78.1 million shekels, highlighting the persistent gap between allocated resources and their actual implementation.

The report identifies a severe shortage of suitable buildings for welfare services in Arab towns as a primary obstacle. Many local authorities also face financial difficulties, hindering their ability to contribute the required matching funds for projects. Bureaucratic procedures and delays in local election approvals further impede progress.

Musaawa calls for ensuring the continuation of welfare budgets for the Arab community beyond the initial five-year plan, urging they become a permanent part of the state budget. The center also demands a dedicated plan to address the crisis in welfare facilities in Arab local authorities, including accelerating planning, removing land obstacles, and eliminating the requirement for financial participation in construction projects.

Sami Abbasi, head of Musaawa's economic unit, stated that these figures represent not just a financial deficit but also a failure to deliver essential services to families, children, and youth in Arab communities. He emphasized that budget approval is insufficient if funds remain stalled due to infrastructure, funding conditions, and bureaucracy, calling for the removal of these barriers to ensure budgets translate into tangible services.