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Tel Aviv comes in last among local authorities for its rate of appointing Arabs to government positions
The day that Sikkuy released its equality index, which shows that Jews live longer than Arabs, it turns out that the situation is even worse. Figures presented to the parliamentary investigative committee on the employment of Arabs in the civil service show that Tel Aviv comes in last place among all local authorities for its record of hiring Arabs.
The figures presented today for the committee examining Arabs in the civil service was not a surprise to representatives of the Arab sector. “This is a disgrace to Israeli society and the Israeli civil service,” said MK Ahmad Tibi, the head of the committee.
Arabs account for only 3% of public employees in the Tel Aviv municipality; Jerusalem comes in first, with Arab employees making up 26% of the public workforce. Arab representation is low in other cities as well: Arabs constitute only 4% of civil servants in Upper Nazareth, 6% in Ramle, 11% in Lod, 12% in Haifa, 19% in Maalot, and 24% in Acre.
These unfortunate numbers were not limited to municipal authorities, but reflect the situation at the Center for Local Governance, where Arabs fill six of 30 positions. The center’s management includes among only one Arab among the nine board members.
“The employment of Arabs in local government is about 20% since I assumed my post,” said Adi Eldar, the director of the Center for Local Governance, during the committee meeting. “I am working to achieve Arab representation on every committee and board. The center does not pursue affirmative action, but after this meeting, I will approach public companies and ask them to work to increase the number of Arab employees.”
MK Ibrahim Sarsour (Raam-Taal) asked Eldar for Arab representation on the job-announcement committee, and he promised to appoint the first Arab representative tomorrow.
MK Nadia Hilou (Labor) attended the meeting. “Statements are not enough,” she told Ynet. “Clear targets must be established so that by the end of 2009 we can reduce gaps and increase the number of Arab civil servants.”
Data published four months ago shows a similarly problematic situation in the national civil service. Although Arabs and Druze make up nearly 20% of the population, Arabs account for only 6.17% of the civil service. Since 2003, there has been an increase of 1.12% in the number of Arab and Druze government workers. Taking all Arab civil servants in 2007, Arab men made up 55.3% of the total, Arab women 33.7%, Druze men 9.3%, and Druze women only 1.7%.
Reader responses to the article
Why don’t they worry about the ultra-orthodox?—Yoel.
They shouldn’t be allowed to work in any Jewish cities because they’re potential terrorists. They shouldn’t be hired. Arab MKs are betraying the state openly and spying on it. The same is true of their public, which is always producing terrorists. Employing such trash is a danger to the Jewish people! Let them go to Arab countries where there are lots of jobs—Genji.
In Europe they don’t hire Arabs in sensitive positions at all—Fearing terrorist attacks.
July 9, 2008
By: Sharon Roffe-Ofir
Written By: AD2
Date Posted: 9/3/2008
Number of Views: 10
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