The Mossawa Center, in collaboration with the Human, Nature and Law Association, is demanding that the Ministry of Finance fulfill its obligation to transfer the NIS 100 million ($28M) budget allocated under Government Resolution 550 for environmental improvements in Palestinian Arab towns for the years 2023-2024. Despite a government decision issued in 2021, the Ministry of Finance has failed to transfer these funds, exacerbating environmental hazards and negatively impacting the quality of life and health of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arab residents.

The five-year plan was designed to close longstanding environmental gaps and enhance infrastructure in Palestinian Arab towns, which have suffered from severe neglect, including lack of regular waste collection systems, polluted water sources, and deteriorating sewage infrastructure

The Ministry of Finance had committed to transferring NIS 50 million ($14M) for each of the years 2023 and 2024, yet to date, these funds remain undelivered.

The Mossawa Center and the Human, Nature and Law Association emphasize that the failure to allocate these funds represents not only a breach of government commitments but also a severe violation of Palestinian Arab citizens' rights to health and a clean environment. Without the necessary financial support, critical government plans to mitigate environmental damage and improve living conditions in Arab communities cannot be realized.

If the Ministry of Finance does not take immediate action to rectify this failure and transfer the required budgets, legal measures will be considered to enforce government obligations and uphold the rights of the Palestinian Arab community in Israel.

The Mossawa Center remains committed to ensuring accountability and advocating for the rights of Palestinian Arab citizens to a safe, clean, and sustainable environment.