In recent days the difficulties facing the Druze community have made headlines. Israel today is home to 130,000 Druze and 4,300 Circassians. In Israel they are allowed to maintain their religious and cultural uniqueness. This doesn’t prevent them from volunteering to serve with us in our IDF combat units. Members of these beautiful communities have paid an unbearable price for their participation in defense of Israel. ** I love you, my brothers. A lot. ** In the Economy Ministry we invested large budgets for the development of industrial areas, the establishment of local employment centers, professional training, and the promotion of small and medium businesses in their sectors. Most of the small business owners are women. We have increased our support and funding for their day care centers as well. ** Its not enough. Today the cabinet approved a government decision for most of the government ministries to invest a combined half a billion shekels in 2015 to help the Druze communities. Unfortunately there were objections by the legal advisers, claiming we are only approving this because we in the middle of an election year! This is despite the fact that the government program has been in the works for the last six months. We overcame the opposition, and the plan was approved for 2015. The compromise is that the next government will have to extend it for the budget years of 2016-2020. The government ministries will all pitch in. ** Druze citizens of Israel - Know that the people of Israel are with you, in good times and bad. ** The bond we share is not just a blood bond. It is also a bond full of life. via Naftali Bennett
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 07:08:34 +0000