Far-right minister accused of racism after freezing funds for Arab Israeli cities

Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich is being accused of racism after his decision to freeze funding for Arab municipalities and educational programmes for Palestinians in East Jerusalem. 

The funding for Arab municipalities, which was approved by the previous government, is meant to improve infrastructure and fight crime, which is currently record-high.

Both Interior Minister Moshe Arbel and Minister of Intelligence Gila Gamliel called on Smotrich to unfreeze the funds, with the latter saying that the “integration of the Arab population into academia holds social, economic, and security importance.”

Smotrich refused, despite widespread criticism, claiming, without offering evidence, that “a large number of authorities in Arab society have fallen prey to criminal organisations.”

“The funding ends up in the hands of those that cause damage. Money is the main generator of organised crime and it is impossible for the state to fund these things,” he added.

Both the defence establishment and the education ministry believe that the funding for educational programmes for Palestinians in East Jerusalem is a positive factor in combating terror, as it gives young Palestinians the opportunity to study in Israeli academic institutions.

Opposition leaders lashed out at Smotrich, accusing him of racism. “This decision by Smotrich to hold up NIS 200 million that was promised to the Arab authorities reeks of racism and harms not only them, but society as a whole,” National Unity party leader Benny Gantz said.

“Treating crime in the Arab community is in the interest of all of Israeli society and not just the Arab community. Police enforcement alone is not enough; there needs to be widespread and serious investment across all spheres: education, infrastructure, welfare and more,” he added.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said that Smotrich “mistreats Arab citizens simply because they are Arabs. Contrary to his lies, the budgets frozen by Smotrich for Arab local authorities are not related to the ‘commitment of the previous government’ to the Arab sector.”

Lapid added that the was “ashamed that racism has become an official policy of the state of Israel.”