The Mossawa Center has raised alarm over the severe lack of infrastructure in social welfare departments across Arab towns, prompting 35 Arab local authorities to submit proposals for the construction of essential welfare facilities.

These proposals reflect the acute need for social welfare services in Arab communities. Recently, the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs concluded a tender to allocate funds for the establishment of these much-needed welfare departments.

In a meeting held with MK Walid Hawashleh, the Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs committed to utilizing all available funds within the ministry to close the significant gaps in social welfare services. This meeting followed the Mossawa Center’s disclosure that most of the budgets earmarked for addressing welfare disparities under Government Resolution 550 since 2022 had not been utilized. Although 375 million shekels (approximately $100 million) were intended to address these disparities, the funds have yet to be fully allocated or expended.

Data obtained by the Mossawa Center, following a Freedom of Information petition, revealed that in 2022, only 59.6 million shekels ($16 million) were allocated out of the 124.9 million shekels ($33 million) promised under Government Resolution 550. Of this budget, Arab local authorities used merely 23.7 million shekels ($6.3 million). In 2023, 67.2 million shekels ($17.8 million) were allocated, falling short of the 124.9 million target. For 2024, 78 million shekels ($20.7 million) are expected to be allocated, though much of this budget remains undisbursed and unused.

Mossawa Center Director Jafar Farah has called for a clear action plan to ensure the proper utilization of these funds. He criticized the Welfare Ministry for its failure to implement the government’s decisions and use the funds provided by the Ministry of Finance since 2022. 

As a result of the meeting, an agreement was reached between the Minister of Welfare and MK Hawashleh to actively monitor the disbursement of these budgets, in coordination with the Ministry’s teams and the directors of social welfare departments in Arab local authorities.