The Mossawa Center is launching a new campaign to promote the economic rights of Arab citizens in Israel, specifically focusing on the employment of Arab women and the establishment of industrial zones in Arab localities. Both of these issues present major barriers to addressing poverty in the Arab community in Israel – at present, over 50 percent of the Arab population lives below the poverty line. This campaign builds on two discussions in the Knesset last week, facilitated by the Mossawa Center: the first on employment of Arab women, at the Knesset’s committee of the Status of Women and Gender Equality, the second on the development of industrial zones in Arab localities, at the Knesset’s Finance committee in cooperation with MK Dr. Ahmad Tibi.

Throughout August, the campaign will repeat the demands of the Arab community on the Mossawa Center Facebook, featuring images of the people behind this movement: members of the Knesset, leaders of Arab local councils, local experts and others standing up for the economic rights of Arab citizens. MKs Osama Sa’adi, Basel Ghattas, Dr. Ahmad Tibi, Dr. Abdallah Abu Marouf and many mayors, local activists, and college-graduate Arab women have participated. The goal of the campaign is to call on government officials, including the Prime Minister, the Minister of Economy, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of education to fulfill their responsibilities and facilitate the equitable creation of jobs for the Arab community.

“Local authorities should not have to coordinate a plan to arrange jobs for thousands of unemployed workers,” says Mossawa Center Director Jafar Farah. “That is the role of the government. This new campaign will pressure the country’s leaders to allocate the necessary resources to integrate women into the workforce and to establish industrial zones in Arab towns and villages.”

The new campaign seeks to influence current discussions on the proposed state budget for 2017-19.

At present, 24.6 percent of Arab men between the ages of 25 and 64 are unemployed, compared with 14.3 percent of non-Haredi Jewish men. Only 22 percent of working-age Arab women in Israel are employed, compared to 58 percent of Jewish women. Only 3.5 percent of industrial zones are located in Arab localities, forcing those who do find work to travel long hours and leave their communities. Lack of public transportation and Early Childhood Centers in Arab localities adds to the difficulties Arab citizens, especially women, face in attaining jobs.Arab women also struggle with a wage gap, when compared to their Jewish counterparts: on average, Arab women are paid 40 percent less than Jewish women in similar positions.

This campaign is a part of a cooperative push involving the Mossawa Center, the heads of Arab local councils, members of the Knesset, local experts and civil society organizations. It represents a collaboration between Women Against Violence, Al-Tufula Center, “Intimaa` wa A`ataa,” Al Zahra and The Forum of Arab Women’s Organizations in the Negev.

Since last week’s discussions in the Knesset, the Mossawa Center has sent a letter to government ministers calling for the establishment of industrial zones, increases in the budgets for employment and the expansion of anti-poverty programs. Leaders of educational organizations and Arab local councils have met and are demanding the implementation of a revised budgeting plan, which will strengthen education in the Arab community and add thousands of Arab teachers to the educational system.