Herzog: Infrastructure lacking
Photo: Alanami Abed
Extensive Bedouin welfare plan in works
Social Affairs minister to present NIS 50 million plan focusing on women, children during gov't meeting
Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog is scheduled to present a five-year plan for the development of welfare services offered to the Negev's Bedouin population during Sunday's government meeting.
The plan, valued at around NIS 50 million (almost $12 million) is said to focus on care for women, children and teens and will establish day care centers, women's clubs, and clubs for disadvantaged youths. Professional aid to small businesses is also in the making.
Statistics
Meital Yasur-Beit Or
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The plan is also said to include "culture sensitive" training for employees of the Negev's welfare offices as well as a budget for transportation targeting those who live outside of permanent Bedouin settlements.
Data published by the Ministry of Social Affairs maintains that around 70% of Bedouin children are below the poverty line, and that 40% of those citizens receiving an income support benefit from the government are Bedouin.
But the Bedouin population is also the fastest-growing sector in Israel. In the States' 60 years of independence, the number of Bedouins has risen from 11,000 to 160,000, and their numbers are predicted to reach 300,000 by the year 2020.
The Bedouin population has registered many complaints regarding basic welfare services they claim are virtually nonexistent for them, and Social Affairs Ministry Director-General Nahum Itzkovitz was recently appointed to establish a plan for the sector's wellbeing.
The team focused mainly on construction in the Negev, and recently declared its investigation completed with a promise to deliver recommendations in the near future.
"There is an essential need for the improvement and broadening of services available to Bedouins in the south," Minister Herzog said. They suffer from poverty and polygamy, and the social infrastructure is feeble. This is a leading social challenge."
He said his plan would "deepen the initiatives led by the Social Affairs Ministry, especially among the elderly, women and children, and was prepared with the cooperation of the sector's welfare representatives."
