As part of the joint forum's activity, and with the support of outgoing Tourism Minister Herzog, officials at the Arab-Israeli town of Umm al-Fahm worked last week on a project that would turn the peak of Mount Alexander, located within the town's boundaries, into a tourism site that draws visitors.

For the government, this project offers two opportunities: Both for economic development (as opposed to relaying on the welfare system) and for fulfilling its duty to serve all Israeli citizens regardless of their religion or ethnicity. However, very soon the tourism portfolio will be handed over to the Israel Our Home party. Will the new minister thwart this tourism project?

During the pre-election campaign, Israel Our Home leader Lieberman engaged in debate regarding the de-legitimization of Arab-Israel citizenship. Several months ago he even managed to enter the coalition through the "strategic threats" window of opportunity. The prime minister made clear back then that Israel Our Home joining the government does not change its basic lines, including the participation of Arab citizens in any development plan.

Now, the government presence of Israel Our Home is expanding beyond the "strategic threats" arena to responsibility for developing economic growth ventures.

Therefore, Olmert's test is to prove that Israel Our Home's presence in the government would not undermine the policy adopted in the past year of promoting the development of Arab communities. The burden of proof is on Olmert now to show that when it comes to Umm al-Fahm and other Arab communities, his government indeed intends to promote growth ventures. 

Compelling challenge

Symbolically, the Mount Alexander peak in Umm al-Fahm offers a good observation point to the beach in Caesarea to the West and to the Jezreel Valley on the east. If one turns around one can notice to the south both Jenin and the Samaria mountains in the West Bank.

However, the choice made by town residents and their Jewish neighbors is unequivocal: The point of view, as well as the joint construction, is in the direction of the State of Israel, with all the implications this entails.

This angle was also seen by the many visitors who in the past weekend visited the modern art gallery in Umm al-Fahm and walked around and ate in town after the exhibition was inaugurated. This angle is the determining factor and it conveys no doubt when it comes to Arab citizens belonging to the State of Israel, or the State's duty to invest in them.

Will this be the point of view also adopted by the Tourism Ministry in Jerusalem under Minister Esterina Tartman? If the development venture on Mount Alexander will continue to enjoy the sympathy of ministry economists, we would be able to say that in this case at least the government met the test. The challenge is serious and compelling.

We can just hope that the government's investment in Israeli Arabs won't be again directed to Isaac Herzog – this time in his new post of welfare minister. Yet there's nothing to worry about: Even in his new post, Herzog has plenty of work awaiting him in closing the gaps between Arab and Jewish communities.

The writer is the co-director of Sikkuy, the Association for the Advancement of Civic Equality in Israel