Arab Community in Israel Faces Economic Crisis Amid Budget Cuts, Expert Warns
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
The Arab minority in Israel faces a severe economic and social crisis due to the ongoing war and government budget cuts, according to expert Hossam Abu Baker. Employment for Arab men has dropped significantly, and a third of young Arabs are now unaffiliated with education or work, threatening the community's future. Abu Baker urged the government to reallocate development budgets and support employment initiatives.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Arab minority in Israel faces unprecedented economic and social crisis amid ongoing war and budget cuts.
- Expert Hossam Abu Baker warns of widening class gap and sharp decline in Arab employment rates.
- Employment for Arab men has fallen from 81% before the war to about 74%-75% currently.
- Over one-third of young Arabs are now unaffiliated with education or employment, a worrying trend.
- Abu Baker criticizes current government for budget cuts and urges reallocation of development funds.
- Successful programs like "Rayan" have helped increase Arab women's employment by 20%.
The Arab minority in Israel is confronting an unprecedented economic and social crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing war and government budget cuts. Experts and local institutions warn of a widening class gap and a sharp decline in employment rates.
Dr. Hossam Abu Baker, Director General of the Al-Fanar Association and an expert in economic and social security, stated in an interview with i24NEWS that security and economic crises disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, with the Arab community being the first to suffer and the last to recover from economic shocks. He noted a significant drop in employment for Arab men, from 81% before the war to approximately 74%-75% currently. This 6% decrease represents a severe blow to the economic structure of Arab families, as men are typically the primary breadwinners.
The economic impact extends to social structures, with Abu Baker warning of a rise in "unaffiliated youth" (neither in education nor employment) to over one-third of young Arabs. He stressed that this phenomenon threatens the community's foundation and future, intensifying feelings of marginalization and escalating discrimination and racism.
Regarding solutions, Abu Baker referenced past five-year government plans, such as the "Progress" plan, which allocated billions of shekels to develop the Arab community. However, he criticized the current government's performance, highlighting significant budget reductions and a failure to implement allocated funds. Abu Baker called for urgent measures, including re-establishing development budgets, supporting employment through new industrial and commercial zones, and continuing successful programs like "Rayan," which has helped increase Arab women's employment by about 20% over a decade.