On May 10th, 2007, a conference on Israeli Arabs: Towards Civil, Social and Economic Equality was held at the Israel Democracy Institute. The conference started with opening remarks by Mr. Shauki Khatib, head of the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who spoke of the need to be practical and pragmatic.
Following the opening remarks, three opening speeches were given, which created a suitable mindset and got everyone thinking:
Professor Mordechai Kremnitzer, IDI Senior Fellow:
Israel: A Jewish and Democratic State which is Committed to Equality
Professor Majid Al-Haj, Haifa University:
Jewish and Arab Relations in Israel: Myths and Reality
Professor Yedidia Stern, IDI Senior Fellow:
Equality - Between the Private and Public Space
Afterwards, three workgroups set off to discuss these issues, while the PM sat in with the different groups. The group topics and leaders were as follows:
Creating Equal Conditions in the Education System, headed by Professor Al-Haj, Haifa University
The Integration in Israeli Society and the Work Force, headed by Professor Aziz Hider, Van Leer Institute
Principles for Just Policies in the Fields of Planning and Lands, headed by Professor Itzhak Shanel, the Geography Department, Tel Aviv University
After presenting the work that was done in the three workgroups, Shauki Khatib and Prime Minister Olmert closed the conference.
The main recommendation that arose from all of the groups was that a special authority needs to be set up to deal with the non-Jewish minority in Israel. Preferably this authority should be adjunct to the PM’s office. This authority should have the ability to overcome bureaucratic obstacles and work quickly and efficiently. The PM declared that, within a year, a special conference will be held regarding Arab issues.
Professor Al-Haj and IDI President Dr. Arye Carmon declared that they will set up a steering committee (through the IDI and Haifa University) which will monitor the implementation of the seminar’s recommendations.
Olmert also stated that a number of measures have been made, this year alone, to assist the Arab sector, among them the declaration of all Arab locales as “Zone A - Top National Priority.” This enables massive tax benefits as well as other assistances.