We write to you at a difficult time for relations between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel as the Knesset has just passed two anti-democratic laws whose core intention is to marginalize and discriminate against the Arab citizens: The "Nakba Law" and the " Acceptance to Communities Law," In the next newsletter we will provide additional information about these laws and their unfortunate ramifications.

In addition, in the next newsletter we will fill you on the Sikkuy Equality Index 2009 just published in Hebrew measuring the socio-economic gaps (increasing!) between Jews and Arabs.

Today, we are pleased to send you the link to the recently published English translation of our policy paper, "From Barriers to Opportunities - Mapping the barriers and policy recommendations for achieving equality between the Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel". This publication, edited by Ron Gerlitz, identifies the barriers within government ministries and Arab municipalities (though they are not symmetrical) which prevent the equal allocation of government resources between Arab and Jewish citizens. The policy paper proposes an innovative model for identifying these barriers, and suggests practical policy recommendations to remove them and achieve equality.

This paper also presents the results of our mapping of two specific areas: legal aid offices of the Justice Ministry and out-of-home frameworks for children at risk operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Affairs. In the coming months and years, Sikkuy will map barriers to equality in additional fields and publish the results.

The policy paper offers key stakeholders such as national and local government, civil society organizations and philanthropic agencies, an innovative tool to change the existing situation and eliminate the gaps. The model also creates a common language for Jews and Arabs to use as they work together toward advancing equality between all the citizens of the State of Israel.

Although the model addresses those barriers which prevent equal allocations of state resources to Arab citizens of Israel, it can also serve as a tool for identifying inequality in government resource allocations to other population groups which suffer from discrimination—both in Israel and internationally. To this end, we have now made the policy paper available in English and it is being widely distributed to international civil society organizations and research institutions.

The full report can be accessed here.

The paper was first presented at the Sikkuy Conference held in Haifa in August 2010. A video summary of the conference can be accessed on our web site as well.

We would like to thank the staff of the Sikkuy Equality Policy Department and its directors, Maha Abu-Salih and Ruth Weinschenk-Vennor and the head of research, Michal Belikoff, for their in-depth analysis of the issues at hand and for devoting their professional skills and dedication to developing the model and advancing its implementation.

The Hebrew and Arabic editions can be accessed on our web site as well.

The policy paper print edition will be mailed to those requesting it at by contacting: haifa@sikkuy.org.il.

We welcome your comments, questions and continued support

Ron Gerlitz and Ali Haider

Co-Executive Directors