The government postponed to Tuesday a discussion on diverting NIS 600 million from the five-year plan for Arab society to the police and Shin Bet — a move that would halt the Ryan centers operated by the Alfanar organization. Mazen Gana'im, chairman of the Arab local authorities committee, and Druze spiritual leader Mowafaq Tarif warned that closing the centers would harm employment opportunities for thousands of young people and undermine economic resilience, according to N12.
The government's decision to postpone the discussion on diverting NIS 600 million from the five-year plan for Arab society to the police and Shin Bet marks a momentary pause in a contentious policy shift. As The Zioneer reported earlier today (12:02 Jerusalem), the diversion would effectively halt the Ryan centers run by the Alfanar organization, which provide employment and training for thousands of Arab youth. The postponement follows a wave of opposition from Arab community leaders. Mazen Gana'im, chairman of the Arab local authorities committee, warned that closing the centers 'will harm the employment opportunities of thousands of young people and may also complicate the fight against violence and crime in Arab society.' Druze spiritual leader Mowafaq Tarif separately said halting the centers after the war — which severely damaged the economy of the north — would constitute 'social irresponsibility and a severe blow to the economic resilience of the youth of the community.' The broader context includes the government's ongoing push to allocate NIS 500 million to the Shin Bet for combating organized crime in Arab society, as The Zioneer reported in July. The cabinet is expected to revisit the issue on Tuesday.
3 developments
- StrongGovernment to approve NIS 500 million for Shin Bet's fight against Arab organized crime
- DevelopingPolice chief’s flagship anti-crime plan for Arab sector shelved
- DevelopingOpposition MKs ask to postpone Knesset debate on yeshiva daycare funding for draft-dodgers
- DevelopingCommunications Law debate postponed; Shas says it is being taken hostage by Religious Zionism
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