The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

General Budget: 1.13 billion NIS

(Of this budget, 586 million NIS are designated from the outset to the Settlement Division of the Jewish Agency and the Kibbutz Movement).

Development Budget: 150 million NIS

Investments: 110 million NIS

Of this, the amount invested

in agriculture for the Arab farmers: 2.2 million NIS (2%)

Number of Employees: 1410

Number of Arab Employees: 60 (4.2%)

Issues

1. Quotas

. The main resources for farmers are land and water, and they are very expensive and scarce in Israel. Thus, the fate of the Israeli farmer is totally dependent on the government’s policy in this regard. The Israeli agricultural economy, similar to other countries, allocates various quotas in the area of resources for production and production itself. Traditionally, the Israeli economy determines quotas based on a political factor among the different community settlement movements. This principle has left the Arab citizens out of the allocations process from the State’s earliest days.

A. Lands:

The Arab farmers work 16.1% of the land, all of it privately owned.

B. Water:

The State allocates to Arab farmers only 2.3% of all of the water quotas. They utilize 98.6% of this allowance.

The Jewish farmers utilize 80.6% of their water quotas.

The above stated facts indicates the following:

· The State does not allocate any of the lands that it owns to agriculture for Arab citizens.

· The quota of water to the Arab farmer is lower proportionately and absolutely in comparison with their Jewish counterparts.

C. Quotas for Poultry Production

· There are 3000 poultry quotas in Israel. Approximately 1000 active poultry farms use these quotas.

· Only one Arab poultry producer is a recipient of this quota, however, his farm is not in use.

Infrastructure and Resources

2. The Budget and its Designation

Over 50% of the Ministry budget for this year is designated by definition for Jews only (see above).

Beginning May 15, 1948 the State has been committed to attending to all its citizens, Jews and Arabs, in every field. The State is responsible for the distribution of its resources for the benefit of all.

However, since the establishment of the State, over 600 Jewish communities have been established but not even one Arab community aside, from the consolidation of Beduins in the Negev..

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is charged with the responsibility of developing rural communities, including Arab communities. Rural developments and communities for Arab citizens must be established immediately. Aside from the response to everyday needs, the Ministry of Agriculture will thus be able to provide tangible substance to the Arabs’ citizenship in Israel.