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Olmert: Time for different partnership with Arabs
Prime minister tours north, promises town of al-Shajur, next to Carmiel, that Arab residents will not be discriminated against in allocation of monies for rehabilitation after war damages. 'War was directed at all citizens without any distinction of religion or nationality. We found ourselves in the same place. Perhaps this is sign for dialogue, for different partnership between Jews, Arabs'
Ronny Sofer
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrived
in the north Thursday to embrace the Galilee Arabs, and dedicated a significant part of his tour of the north to them. "The war was a sign to all of us. This is the first time a war was directed at all citizens of the state, without any distinction of their religion or nationality. We all found ourselves standing in the same place," Olmert said in the town of al-Shajur, next to Carmiel and composed of the councils of Majd al-Krum, Bana, and Dir al-Assad.
Olmert, who met with the mayor and council members, said that this is an unusual situation that can bring about change. "I say this in the name of the State of Israel, in the name of the Jewish majority to the non-Jewish minority: I think t his is a sign, or perhaps an invitation, for dialogue, for a different partnership within the State of Israel between Jews and Arabs," he said.
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The prime minister promised the residents that they will not be discriminated against in anything concerning government aid funds to the areas that were affected. "We will do everything in order for the distribution of the funds of the Cabinet for Strengthening Haifa and the North will be equal and fair - minorities the same as Jews. This is so that the future we are building will be based on solidarity and inclusive cooperation between all segments of the population. I hope that together we will take large steps forward and that an understanding will be created. We have suffered, and tolerance is bigger. This obligates all of us, and of course, us as the government."
The prime minister estimated that the government will ultimately invest about NIS10 billion (USD 2.3 billion) for rehabilitation and development of the Galilee and the north. "I am not talking about a plan for a year from now. I am talking about a plan that will be approved in another two weeks. The challenge before us is to transform distress into opportunity, and threat into challenge. I charge the ministries to allocate additional budget for the north. We will allocate another USD 300 million raised by Jewish communities for development. We are going to develop the north of the country in dimensions as of yet unknown. This is the true answer to those who tried to cast a shadow on the existence of the state."
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