Tourism minister slams plan
Photo: Rami Hacham
Tourism minister slams aid plan to non-Jews
Plan to invest in Arab communities rewards disloyalty, Tourism Minister Misezhnikov says
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov slammed Saturday a multi-annual aid plan for the non-Jewish sector to be debated in the cabinet on Sunday.
The plan calls for roughly NIS 800 million (about $220 million) to be invested in 10 Arab communities in the next four years.
"Government aid to minorities must not be granted to communities whose public leaders' loyalty lies with the State of Israel's enemies, while not being granted to communities loyal to Israel such as the Circassians, Druze, and Bedouins," the minister said. "This program is distorted and rewards disloyalty."
The current state of non-Jewish local authorities warrants comprehensive attention and the allocation of funds, Misezhnikov said, but slammed the aid plan in its current format. He noted that his ministry has been granting aid to non-Jewish communities loyal to the State and said he intends to continue investing in the Arab sector and assist tourism, marketing, and infrastructure ventures there.
The aid plan, which is scheduled to run from 2010 to 2014, will be presented to the government by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minority Affairs Minister Avishay Braverman. The initiative will focus on economic development, housing, transportation, and personal safety at 10 selected communities that are home to a total of 300,000 residents.
"The economic growth and contribution of the (Arab) sector as result of this decision can change the State of Israel's face and express this government's commitment both to growth and to equality," PM Netanyahu said, referring to the plan.
