Higher education for Israel’s Arab citizens is widely recognized as a vital area for increasing their participation in the country’s advanced economy and improving their own socioeconomic conditions (“Federation Leaders Pressed on Arab Integration,” Feb. 15).
The six-year plan Manuel Trajtenberg presented in New York marks a turning point in Israel’s approach to the issue. It provides a holistic, forward-looking framework on a national scale that addresses barriers along the entire higher education path. Significantly, the Israeli government is making unprecedented investments in Arab education in recognition that this is a critical and strategic investment in Israel’s long-term economic growth and productivity.
Trajtenberg warns that if more than 20 percent of the population continues to be left behind, the costs to the country will only rise. As Israel’s economic future is a shared Jewish concern, it is important for the largest diaspora community to know about the strides being made by Israel’s Council on Higher Education on this issue.
Executive Director Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues
The New York Jewish Week brings you the stories behind the headlines, keeping you connected to Jewish life in New York. Help sustain the reporting you trust by donating today.
