Under the auspices of the Communist-Hadash faction, the Mossawa center analyzed the proposed budget which was voted into “law” yesterday  Such widely disproportionate allocations account not only for the continuing lack of development and infrastructure in the Arab neighbourhoods but for their continuing decay. 

The analysis of the ordinary budget was also analyzed, but because of the deliberate opacity of many of its sections, it is difficult to determine the size of real allocations.  According to the marked allocations for the Arab population, the amount of 15,010,500 shekels out of a total general budget of 1,680,280,000 shekels has been allocated.   While this sum may not be the entire allocation, it constitutes just under 1% of the sum total.

The Communist-Hadash members of the town council, Hisham Abdu and Edna Zaritzky, requested that that Mayor Yonah Yahav convene an extraordinary meeting to discuss these discriminatory allocations, but he refused.    

They provided him with a detailed list of those projects which are vital and necessary for the populations of these  neighbourhoods, which include Wadi Nisnas, Kababir, Halisa, Abbas, the German Colony, Wadi Siah and others.  These projects concern housing and commercial development, educational facilities, public spaces and parks, sports facilities, community centers and services, projects for the elderly, renovation and restoration of cemeteries and buildings and others. 

There is also a critical need to invest in Arab education and educational facilities which sorely lag behind those provided in the Jewish sector, as a result of decades of deliberate discrimination and under-funding.  Such investment is needed for all the age groups, particularly adolescents.

Funding is also urgently required for Arabic language and cultural projects.

Despite Mayor Yonah Yahav’s announcement that he intends to narrow the glaring differences in development and well-being between the Jewish and Arab populations of Haifa, this budget, drawn up under his ministerial authority, belies such declarations.

The municipal budget is subject to the principles of administrative law, and hence must reflect the principles of equality, proportionality and transparency, none of which form the basis of the current budget.  In the opinion of the Communist-Hadash faction, if this budget is passed, it will, prima facie, be in violation of Israeli Administrative Law.

For further information please contact:  Hisham Abdu:   0504-8044254

                                                                 Edna Zaritzky-Toledano:  0544-691995