After weeks of debate and ahead of the deadline for passing the state budget, the government passed Oct. 24 the economic development five-year plan for 2022-2026 to close gaps in the Arab society. The plan’s budget totals 30 billion Israeli shekels ($9.4 billion), and includes a series of moves to develop employment, technological innovation and hi-tech, health services, housing, and so on. In effect, it is a continuation of "Decision 922," passed by the Netanyahu government at the end of 2015, which will end this year.

Likewise, in light of the rising crime in the Arab community, the multiyear national plan to deal with crime and violence in the Arab community passed, with a budget of 2.5 billion shekels ($786,000). This plan was formulated at the Ministry for Public Security, and will allow the government to work to increase enforcement, dismantle criminal organizations, and support personal and communal security. 

The new economic development plan was put together at the Ministry for Social Equality, headed by Minister Meirav Cohen, who wrote on Facebook, “This is a historic plan that translates the value of equality to reality.” She said it is the product of cooperation with the rest of the government ministries and deep strategic work on behalf of the Authority for the Socioeconomic Development of the Arab Community, headed by Hassan Towafra. Listing the goals of the plan, Towafra noted proudly, “The plan was unanimously approved by the government.”

This statement is significant. It reflects the involvement over the past few months of Ra’am Chairman Mansour Abbas and of other members of his party, in every stage of the buildup of the economic development plan. In fact, the plan has become for them a flagship issue and their first real achievement following the historic inclusion in the coalition. In other words, Ra’am is starting to demonstrate to its voting public in particular and the Arab community in general that the historic step Abbas took in joining the coalition wasn’t for nothing, but has paid off. Indeed, the social media posting bonanza that Ra’am members held online, publishing comprehensive details on where every shekel in the plan will go and the list of objectives, clearly resonates these feelings of pride.