The urgent need for increased educational opportunities in Israel’s Arab sector was demonstrated this week.  According to figures published by NIF grantee Mossawa Center, 54 percent of Israeli Arabs live below the poverty line compared to 15 percent of the country’s Jewish citizens. Based on National Insurance Institute data, the report found that over 150,000 Arab families, including about 400,000 children, live in poverty.

“There has been a marked decline in the number of impoverished Jewish families,” observed Amin Fares, Director of the Social Economic Justice Unit of Mossawa Center, “but no commensurate drop has been seen among the Arab population. Behind these numbers are families, and children who are poor, hungry and looking to the government for solutions. Without massive aid and investment both on the government’s part and that of the private business sector, these harsh statistics will only become worse.”