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Israeli government approves new plan to reduce crime in Arab communities
Israel’s government yesterday announced a five-year plan to improve law enforcement in Arab communities, in order to reduce crime rates.
Israel’s Arab population, which includes Muslims, Christians, Druze and Circassian communities, comprise almost one quarter of Israel’s overall population. Nonetheless, police figures show that 59 per cent of murders in Israel take place in Arab communities, as do 47 per cent of robberies, and 32 per cent of reported property crime. Announcing the new plan following cabinet approval yesterday, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan called it “a historic decision that will once and for all create equality in service and law enforcement between Jewish and Arab communities.”
The plan, which according to YNet will cost several billion shekels, will see the construction of ten new police stations and the renovation of ten others in areas with a large Arab population. Meanwhile, an extra 2,600 police officers will be recruited to serve in Arab communities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented, “We want equality in law enforcement,” which he said currently does not exist, and that as a result “the Arab public is paying dearly. The State of Israel is paying dearly.” He added, “We also want to reduce other gaps in society at large and in Israeli Arab society. We want to integrate them in all walks of life in the country – and this is what we will do.”
In December, the government approved an ambitious five-year plan worth £2.5 billion, which will boost housing, education, employment, infrastructure and transportation in Israel’s minority Arab communities. Services within these communities have suffered from a lack of funds and support. The new plan includes more than £200 million towards housing in Arab municipalities and a similar sum for local authorities in these areas to improve infrastructure. 40 per cent of Israel’s transportation budget will be devoted to Arab communities, while large sums will also be allocated towards education and the development of industrial areas in Arab municipalities.