Abir Kobty
'Media looks only for empty refrigerators and those poor people' (Illustration)
Photo: Jeremy Feldman
Budgets for Arabs? You must be kidding
Yet again, government has reneged on an agreement. But where is the media to report it?
The 2006 state budget was approved this week, but the issue was ignored by most media, who instead gave preference to the pre-planned blackouts around the country and the elevators that got stuck as a result.
In recent weeks, various groups and organizations have tried to initiate public discussion about issues related to the Israeli government's social-economic program, which is set by the state budget.
Public and media debate on the matter is critical for a democracy to function, because it gives people the ability to track the activities of elected officials. Media outlets are just about the only means ordinary citizens to ensure government transparency in real time. But the watchdog has once again dozed off.
Nothing new
A week ago, Arab municipal leaders held a protest march in Jerusalem to demand the implementation of decisions and agreements made with them but have yet to be carried out by the interior ministry. Some municipalities have had their electricity and telephones cut off; others haven't been able to pay workers in months. This in turn has led to workers strikes.
But none of this is new: The Israeli government chronically ignores its agreements and promises. After the October, 2000 riots the government decided to invest NIS 4 billion over four years in development for Arab settlements.
Two years were added to this program, but as of this writing more than 30 percent of the money has yet to be allocated. This past January there was an additional agreement – this time between then finance minister and current Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Arab council heads. This, too, has failed to be implemented, and the issue does not appear in the 2006 budget.
Ignoring Arabs
Last year, Knesset members from the United Arab List party abstained from voting on the 2005 budget in exchange for promises of funding for the Arab community, mainly to develop settlements in the Negev. The agreement was signed, but they money is nowhere to be seen.
But where is the public criticism? Facts and figures about all these issues have been consistently provided to the media, but only in a few cases did they get the coverage they deserved.
The media's disregard for the Arab community goes beyond social and budgetary issues. It extends to everything connected to the disbursement of funds and the priorities set by the government in accordance with its warped social – economic outlook.
Seeking photo-ops
The media looks only for empty refrigerators and "those poor people." What can you do – these make for great photographs.
Cancer patients had to go on a hunger strike to get some media attention, and this strengthened their struggle and brought them some gains. But one would be wise to remember that they were forced to fast for many days in order to get some media attention for their issue.
Someone is bound to tell me to go on a hunger strike in protest. But I would remind them that only when Arabs go on strike – and are killed – does the media suddenly remember that there are more than a million citizens of this country who suffer from exceptionally high rates of unemployment and poverty, and low prospects of employment and shortages in education, housing and industrial zones.
It is sad and humiliating that 13 people had to die in order to get the government to set up a governmental commission to say that there was serious fiscal discrimination in Israel.
And, by the way, where are the Orr Commission recommendations? They've been hidden away.
