Most of the Budget Allocated for Welfare Services in Palestinian Arab Society Remains Unused
A significant portion of the budget earmarked for improving welfare services in Palestinian Arab society, as mandated by a government resolution for the years 2023-2024, has remained unused. This information comes from a Ministry of Welfare response to the Mossawa Center following a ruling on a freedom of information petition it filed.
Data reveals that in 2022, the Ministry of Welfare utilized only NIS 23.7 million ($6.5M) out of the allocated NIS 124 million ($34M). In 2023, merely NIS 67 million ($18.5M) was used from the same allocation, and in 2024, only NIS 78 million ($21.5M) has been allocated, with most of the budget still undistributed or unused.
In 2021, the government approved a multi-year plan aimed at closing welfare service gaps in Palestinian Arab society. The program was designed to build accessible welfare department buildings, support at-risk youth, increase manpower in local authorities, address domestic violence, and make customized welfare programs more accessible. However, social distress in Palestinian Arab communities remains severe, with deepening poverty and escalating violence.
The Socio-Economic Department at the Mossawa Center, which monitors the implementation of government decisions, received confirmation that most of the budget had not been allocated by the Ministry of Welfare. After prolonged delays, Mossawa Center was compelled to petition the court for information on the budget's implementation.
Ronit Sapir, Director of Public Information, explained that "approximately NIS 85 million ($23M) of the decision's budget is intended for welfare programs and frameworks, with around NIS 65 million ($18M) depending on local authorities' requests. The development and establishment of these frameworks require time for recruitment and securing suitable buildings, which naturally leads to initial underutilization of the budget." She emphasized that the entire budget would be available to local authorities by the end of the decision period, in line with the plans and requirements outlined in the decision. Sapir also noted that only an initial budget had been allocated for 2024, with more funds to be released throughout the year.
Muhammad Abu Lil, Coordinator of the Socio-Economic Unit at the Mossawa Center, warned, "It has been three years since the government's decision, yet the Ministry of Welfare has not fulfilled its obligations despite the severe social distress in Palestinian Arab society. Half of the children live below the poverty line and suffer from severe violence."
In response to the Ministry of Welfare's information, the Mossawa Center demanded an action plan to implement the government's decision. Nibal Abu Ardat, Coordinator of the Legal Advocacy Department at the Mossawa Center, stated that the ministry "attempted to conceal the information and did not report its underperformance. It was only after we filed a petition and before the hearing that they provided partial information, with the intervention of the attorney's office. They likely had a reason to hide this information."
It is also noteworthy that the Minister of Finance has worked to cut the budgets aimed at closing gaps in Palestinian Arab society by approximately 15%, compared to a 5% cut for all other government ministries. Given the Ministry of Welfare's three-year delay in implementing its part of the government's decision, the actual cut may exceed 15%.
