Disparity in wages, disparity in representation in the city council, disparity in the allocation of urban buildings and disparity in life expectancy - the State Comptroller's report reveals
In the State Comptroller's report published today (Wednesday 27/7/22) dealing with municipal services, it appears, among other things, that in the Haifa municipality the representation of Arab residents in the city council is low compared to their proportion in the city's population, only 7 municipal buildings out of 59 that were built in the last decade were designated for the Arab population and The life expectancy of Jewish men and women in Haifa is about three years longer than the life expectancy of Arab women and men.
In the months of June to November 2021, the State Comptroller's Office examined various aspects regarding the provision of municipal services in mixed cities. Among other things, the composition of the human capital employed in these cities and the composition of the central municipal committees, the municipal infrastructures, the supports, the property tax collection, the education services, and the accessibility of information in the Arabic language were examined.
mixed cities
The inspection was carried out in the municipalities of Haifa, Lod, Nof HaGalil, Acre, and Ramla, since the issue of the mixed cities is on the public agenda, and the municipal services provided in these municipalities affect the lives of many residents, the State Comptroller's Office found it appropriate to add to the usual audit tools a process of public participation . Within this framework, two group meetings were held on the subject of education in mixed cities, in which experts, officials in local authorities and social activists participated, in order to receive first-hand information and deepen the perspectives on the subject. In addition to this, a survey was conducted online and by telephone that included 600 respondents in order to collect information on their satisfaction with the municipality's services. In addition, the office used an external statistical consultant to analyze the results of the Mitzvab tests.
It should be noted that at the same time as the current audit, the Division for the Audit of Government Ministries and Government Institutions in the State Comptroller's Office conducted an audit on the subject of "policing and law enforcement in mixed cities" which focused, among other things, on these issues: the activities of the police in the events of May 2021, including the interface between it and the General Security Service and its activities with the attorney's office and the prosecution the police for making arrests and prosecutions, and policing and law enforcement issues in mixed cities during routine, in the aspects of the building of the force and its operation.
During the audit period, the number of residents in Haifa was 283,736, of which 33,964 were Arabs, making up 12%. The social index ranked 7 and 6 in the peripherality index. There are several neighborhoods in the city where a clear Arab majority lives, such as Wadi Nisnas, Halisa and Kabavir, as well as mixed neighborhoods where a Jewish population and an Arab population live side by side, such as Hadar Carmel and the French Carmel.
The mixing between Jews and Arabs is high in Haifa
As can be learned, there is a high variation between the mixed cities examined in the degree of mixing of the Arab residents and the Jewish residents in the city's neighborhoods. For example, in Haifa the degree of mixing between Jews and Arabs is high, compared to other mixed cities (Lod and Ramla) where the Arab residents mostly live in separate areas. In view of the fact that in some cities, as mentioned, there is a separation between the areas where Jews live and between the areas where Arab residents live, some believe that it is correct to call these cities "polarized cities" or "fragmented cities".
In Haifa municipality, the representation of Arab residents in the city council is low compared to their proportion in the population
It also shows that in the Haifa municipalities the representation of the Arab residents in the municipal council is low compared to their proportion in the city's population, compared to other municipalities (Lod, Acre and Ramla) where the representation of the Arab residents is close to their proportion in the city's population.
The data processed by the institute shows that there are real disparities in wages in four of the five mixed cities examined (Haifa, Lod, Acre and Ramla) between Jewish men and Arab men, and the wages of the Arab men are significantly lower. The biggest gap is in Lod - 35% between the average salary of a Jewish resident and the average salary of an Arab resident. Disparities in wages also exist between Jewish and Arab women in the four aforementioned cities. An exception is Nof HaGilil: Arab men living in its area earn on average 22% more than Jewish men, and Arab women also earn 17% more than Jewish women.
The disparity between the earning capacity of the Arab residents and the earning capacity of the Jewish residents in the mixed cities is sharpened, among other things, due to the fact that in the mixed cities some of the barriers that exist in Arab settlements do not exist, as they are located in the center of the country and are close to quality employment opportunities. Also, the Jewish population and the Arab population live in the same geographic area, so the gap between Jews and Arabs in the employment rate cannot be attributed to the differences in the geographic place of residence.
The life expectancy of Jewish women and men in Haifa is about three years longer than the life expectancy of Arab women and men
The report shows that in Haifa the average life expectancy of Jewish men and women is longer than that of Arab men and women. Jewish women and men live about three years longer than Arab women and men In Haifa.
The data show disparities between the Jewish population and the Arab population, as well as differences in the characteristics of the Arab population in each locality, mainly in the field of employment, and in particular in the employment rate of women, and in the average salary of men. Although these data should be read in light of the general disparities that exist in the country between Arabs and Jews, this comparison between different groups living in the same local authority is important and has the potential to teach about the different needs of the different population groups. It also points to the challenges facing mixed cities in reducing the gaps between the groups and in providing urban services in a way that takes into account their various characteristics, the report states.
63% of the Jewish residents thought that there was equality • 31% of the Arab residents thought so
In the public participation survey conducted by the state comptroller's office, residents living in the mixed cities that were tested were asked to what extent in their opinion municipal services in the city are equally provided to Jews and Arabs. The analysis of the answers showed that 63% of the Jewish residents believed that there is equality "to a very large extent" or "to a large extent" between the Arab population and the Jewish population regarding the provision of municipal services, while only 31% of the Arab residents believed so. Below is a diagram showing the findings of the public participation survey:
The proportion of Arab workers in the Haifa municipality is greater than their proportion among the residents
In the municipalities of Haifa, it was found that the proportion of Arab workers is greater than their proportion among residents (15.7%) compared to other mixed cities, where their proportion is smaller than their proportion in the city's population (such as Lod, Nof HaGalil and Acre). It was found that in all the mixed cities that were examined, the proportion of senior Arab workers is small compared to their share in the city's population: in Haifa 7.7%; In Lod their rate is 1%; in the Galilee landscape 5%; In Acre 9%.
The State Comptroller's Office recommends that mixed cities take steps to integrate the Arab population into their ranks, at all levels, including in joint decision-making positions. It is further recommended that the authorities collect data on the subject, in accordance with the cooperation they will receive for this purpose from their employees, and on the basis of this data, consider formulating a policy for the integration of underrepresented groups.
The lack of representation of the representatives of the Arab society both in the support group and the allocations committee
In the Haifa municipality, with the exception of one committee in which the Arab community was not represented (allocations committee), the proportion of members belonging to the Arab population was greater than or similar to their proportion in the city's population. It also appears that the committees where the lack of representation of Arab society representatives stood out are the Support Committee and the Allocations Committee.
Other Municipalities In other municipalities, Nof HaGalil and Acre for example, the proportion of Arab society members in the committees was smaller than their proportion in the city's population in all the committees examined.
In response to the audit, the Ministry of the Interior stated that in accordance with the provisions of the law and rulings, the composition of the committees reflects the balance between the various factions of the Council, and in accordance with the principles of democracy and the method of representation that underlie the election of the Council, there is no room to interfere in this balance and give an advantage to any faction over another due to its sectoral affiliation.
The auditor recommended that the Ministry of the Interior and the cities involved work, without harming the balance established between the various factions of the council, to integrate representatives from the Arab community in the central municipal committees. Increasing the representation of the members of the Arab population in the municipal committees may contribute to the fact that decisions are made taking into account their needs and to strengthening their sense of belonging to the city.
The findings of the inspection indicate that with regard to the composition of the workers in the cities involved and the number of senior workers in them, the representation of workers from the Arab society is in a gap compared to their share in the PA's population. The findings of the inspection regarding the composition of the central committees also show that, as a rule, the Arab society is not represented in the support committee and the allocations committee, and in other committees there was a lack of representation, despite being an important focus of decision-making and policy design that affects the entire population of the city.
The employment and wage data in the Arab society in the mixed cities that were examined, testify to the gaps that exist between the Jewish society and the Arab society, and illustrate the importance of promoting the employment of the members of the Arab society.
The State Comptroller's Office recommends that the Ministry of the Interior and the cities involved examine steps to integrate Arab residents in senior positions and management positions in these cities as well as in the central committees operating in the city. This is to increase the ability of the Arab residents to take an active part in what is happening in the city and integrate into the social fabric and to strengthen their sense of belonging to the local authority.
The auditor's report also shows that according to the work plan of the Municipality of Haifa for 2021, in most areas of the city, garbage is removed three times a week, except in the Hadar Carmel neighborhood, which is characterized as a commercial area, where removal takes place six times a week. Removal of trimmings and scraps from all neighborhoods is done twice a week.
It also appears that in all the mixed cities that were examined, the proportion of neighborhood and street names that have a connection to history or Arab culture is small and ranges from 0.5% in the Galilee landscape to 6% in Haifa, compared to the proportion of neighborhood and street names that have a Jewish connection which is 15% in the Galilee landscape and 50% in Haifa .
Only 7 urban buildings out of 59 erected in the last decade in Haifa were designated for the Arab population
An inspection by the auditor revealed that between the years 2010 and 2020, the municipality of Haifa built 59 municipal buildings, of which seven were designated for the Arab population and 52 were designated for the Jewish public and the general public.
It also emerged that in the cities that were examined, the proportion of municipal properties built between 2010 and 2020 and intended for the Arab population and its use was smaller than their proportion in the population.
The auditor recommends that the cities involved examine the needs of the Arab population living in their area, and accordingly work to establish public buildings that will be used by the Arab residents for the purpose of managing their daily lives.
Allocation of urban assets to the Arab population
In January 2021, the Haifa Local Planning and Construction Committee completed the preparation of the document "Programs for Public Needs in Haifa Neighborhoods". The audit revealed that the document did not examine the needs of the Arab population, and that the Halisa neighborhood was not included in the document.
The auditor recommended that the Ministry of the Interior give appropriate instructions to the local authorities for the purpose of increasing awareness among the Arab population of the possibility of receiving allocations. He further recommended that the cities involved act to increase the awareness of the Arab population about the possibility of receiving allocations, in order to ensure that the municipal assets are used for the needs of all residents, and also to consider designating municipal assets for the use of the Arab population as needed.
1,075 cases were opened for damages caused to property during the Wall Guard events
From the data received from the Tax Authority, it appears that by February 2022, 1,075 cases were opened in Haifa, Acre, Lod, Ramla and Tiberias for damage caused to property during the Wall Guard events. Of these, 882 cases were handled and closed (82%). The financial estimate of the damages caused was about NIS 48 million and compensation was paid in the amount of about NIS 33 million (about 70% of the financial estimate of the damage).
The audit also revealed that in the events of the wall guard - heavy damages were caused to bodies and property estimated at tens of millions of NIS, in approximately 880 cases the victims were paid compensation from the state coffers in the amount of approximately 33 million NIS and as a result indictments were filed against 574 involved. However, in most cases the identity of the perpetrator is unknown or it is not possible to establish a causal relationship between the person involved who took part in the riots and certain damages that were caused. At the time of the end of the audit, it emerged that the amount of damages that can be claimed in a civil proceeding from about 55 people involved due to damages they caused amounts to about 4.5 million NIS. Until the time of the end of the audit, no civil lawsuits have yet been filed for compensation for the damages caused to state property and for the return of compensation money paid to the victims .
"I think the picture is worse than described in the report"
Raja Zaatara, chairman of the Hadash faction in the city council, referred in detail to the findings of the report and told Lahi Fa:
"The representation of the Arab residents - In the 2018 elections, there were too many lists, some of which did not pass the blocking percentage and actually "burned" about 6000 votes of Arab voters. In preparation for the 2023 elections, the correct conclusions must be drawn so that there will not be more than two lists on the Arab street. We at Hadash call for the broadest list based on an agreed political platform.
Allocation of municipal buildings - I think the picture is more serious than what is described in the report. Especially when you know that the majority of Haifa's Arab students study in the recognized non-official education system, and not in the municipal system. Not to mention the few public buildings in the Arab neighborhoods and the lack of cultural and community services for Arab residents in mixed neighborhoods such as Carmel Sarfati, Kiryat Eliezer and the southern neighborhoods. In this matter, a policy of affirmative action should be led, but unfortunately the current city administration did not do so and even perpetuated the disparities.
Disparities in salaries and senior employees - The situation was never satisfactory, but in recent years there has been an alarming decline in the proportion of Arab senior officials in the municipality, which today stands at less than 7 percent. And as a result, most of the Arab workers are juniors, and most of the junior workers are Arabs - sanitation workers, helpers, etc. In recent years, the city administration went wild with upgrades based on political rather than professional considerations, and this only worsened the situation when it comes to adequate representation, quantitative and qualitative, in manpower.
life expectancy - This is a figure that indicates disparities in health and socio-economic disparities that are reflected in living in more polluted areas. In addition, efforts must be made to make sports services accessible to the Arab public and nutritional education both in educational institutions and in community activities."
"Exclusion under the auspices of coexistence"
Jaafar Farah, director of the Moussava Center, told Lahi Fa:
"This is the result of exclusion under the auspices of coexistence. Two-thirds of the city's Arab children moved to study in the independent education system because they were fed up with the municipality. They pay property taxes and hardly receive services. The victims are the weakened and poor Haifa people. The middle classes are no longer waiting for the municipality and the government. Two weeks since the Halisa club is closed and no one Not moving. There are standards unmanned for more than four years. A fundamental change needs to be made."
Attorney Jumana Agbaria Hamam, CEO of the Association for Social Progress in Haifa, commented on the report and said:
"We welcome the release of a report on the issue of municipal services in mixed cities that verifies the deficiencies and gaps that we, the Arab residents of mixed cities in general and Haifa in particular, see feel and witness. The initial point of assumption is that Arabs in the city of Haifa have the right to realize their identity, their cultural difference as well as their right to equal municipal services and public resources. On top of that, their right to equal representation in the city (in the municipal institutions) and the opportunities that the city offers to its citizens and residents. It is evident from the report that there are many areas of life in which there are gaps between the Jewish majority and the Arab national minority in the city, including educational services, language and culture, infrastructure and section, etc. Although the gaps in the city of Haifa are not among the largest in the mixed cities, there are still substantial gaps that must be reduced through systemic work With the participation of the residents, the activists and the organizations working in the field.
We, at the Association for Social Progress, believe that shared life can be promoted when the values of equality and justice are the guiding principles of the state and city authorities, and that shared life cannot be promoted as long as there are substantial differences between the majority and minority groups. Therefore, work must be done to reduce those gaps and achieve equal urban services while matching the services with the geographic distribution, including in the field of education where the aforementioned incompatibility between the geographic distribution of educational institutions that serve the Arab population and the geographic distribution of Arab families' residences, especially in the southern entrances of Haifa, is evident. Unfortunately, the master plan for education that the Haifa municipality has been trying to promote for two years has been stuck and the result is that there is no future plan to improve or reduce gaps. One must think about the needs of the hour but with a future strategic vision so that long-term results can be obtained that reduce gaps and roadblocks to a solidary, egalitarian and fair society."
My hair stands on end in the face of and against the words of blasphemy, racism and arrogance erupting on the part of some of the Jewish writers here.
How do you even allow an arrogant ignorant abomination, all from the ultra-Orthodox nationalist Beit Midrash, to be published like this in the open air?
It's worse than an overflowing sewer with no one to drain.
The truth will show and justice will be done.
Regarding earnings disparities: it is known that a large percentage of the Arab population, including in Haifa, works in "black" jobs, therefore when the "geniuses" at the Central Bureau of Statistics examine the data, they bring out disparities in earning capacity in favor of the Jewish population. In practice, the "geniuses" went to the centers of the cities/villages of Tirana in which villas they live and in which Mercedes/Audi/BMW they drive. Really poor. Not to mention the low collection rates of taxes. Just feel sorry for them. Let them go and see how their brothers live around in Arab countries, and return quietly to their villas with their tails folded between their legs.
Personal opinion: Real peace is respectful peace, peace where each side accepts the rights of the other, good education and education for every child regardless of race and gender. But respectful peace is peace, it is also peace where each side lives in its own neighborhoods and cities. In separate schools, in separate buildings. In recent years, we see that the residents of the sector are buying and renting apartments in neighborhoods and streets that were "Jewish" in the past. It's uncomfortable to admit it, but many Jews are leaving areas that are becoming "Arab" and for every example of shared living, you can cite several examples of Jews who simply left or who simply avoid moving there. By the way, this situation is also a result of the state not designating for the Arab population a new large city in the north that will be based on saturated and orderly construction, as for example in Haifa and other Jewish cities, because even couples from the sector have an ambition to live and live in an orderly manner with personal security and good transportation. By the way, in the context of employment, in my opinion, there is Also reverse discrimination, for example large Arab businesses for example restaurants, how many Jews are employed in them? Sometimes a Russian-speaking girl is employed, because it is always convenient to employ a woman and also to have a response to Russian customers and tourists. But overall, Jewish workers are not present there, on the other hand, the presence of Arab workers is noticeable in most places of employment in Haifa and in Israel in general
here's an idea,
Maybe you will take my livelihood from me as a Jew and give it to an Arab? Oh, wait, they already did that to me in 2016.
So maybe you'll charge me an exorbitant price for academic studies and won't grant me any scholarship even though I'm stifled, and you'll give the Arabs a free degree and higher grades than me for papers copied from the book? one moment…. It also happened.
Maybe…. That the police will ignore me after Arabi snatched my cell phone from my hand and I brought them his full details? Oish - this has already happened.
Well, dear city Arabs,
I'm really sorry, I have nothing more to offer.
Even after 2 bottles of Finlandia, you won't convince me that the Arabs are the downtrodden in this city
Does the article deal with the public who serve in the IDF? Does the article deal with the public who make reservists? The noisy - crying out about deprivation - why? Because the method is how to whine? Demand rights without giving the state anything? The small and extreme part of them are hostile to the state and it's a shame that this small part is not taken care of.
Many abakim in Haifa owned by Arabs make a good living only from the Jews and are built on these customers. See the Carmel Center. If I want to buy a house in Tamra and open a business there, who will sell it to me? Who will he buy from me?
Everything is bullshit!
Don't be sad, those who advocate the Palestinian flag advocate terrorism!
Check how many of the sector buy health insurance?
And then the coffers are stripped so that there will be no money left to care for the Jews
who always need to activate insurance.
The protections for the sector in hospitals are blinding in broad daylight!!
Either from fear or from the preference of the brothers!
We will do all of us a favor by only talking about the hatred of the Arabs for the Jewish population and changing the culture of violence! This is the conversation that needs to be had until they understand that everyone has the right to personal security! Everything written here only talks about the 10
A percentage that causes all the suffering among the citizens!
First be loyal to the country!
What you did in Shomer Shomat will not be forgotten or forgiven, the coexistence was broken at that time.
Those who wave the flags of the enemy should move to live in the wonderful Arab countries.
I'm sure you'll be much better off there.
It's interesting that the website here ignores the harsh report on the Shomer Hamot riots... Those who want to destroy the country deserve nothing
A High Court that gives citizenship and social rights to murderous terrorists is the most delusional thing in the world. Get off the rails.
I recommend that all members of minorities first think about what they can contribute to the country in which they live and only after that start demanding.
The Bedouin Druze and also a large part of the Christians are in the army and girls are doing national service and for all that we are disadvantaged, unequal in every area, housing areas are not built for the Arabs, there are no jobs, there is no progress, there is no salary like the Jews and the list is very long, so again, keep quiet and don't confuse my head, understand
Haifai, if you suffer so much here from the treatment of the disgusting Jews, why don't you return to your country of origin?!
Ask your grandfather where he got here from, and go back there.
Maybe Egypt? Syria? Lebanon?
You will feel much better there than here!
If you don't feel good here, believe me ours is a million times better than you are here.
Very sad because we work hard and it's not enough for anything whether it's buying a house or teaching our children
Although Haifa is known for a good and normal coexistence between the two populations, one feels that the change is huge
Yes, yes, we also work hard and it's not enough for anything.. It's not because you're Arab, it's because that's how it is here in Israel.
You live in Padua, it doesn't suit you.
There is no connection between the difficulties of life and being Arab. You're talking in the wrong context.
First of all, act to stop the nationalist demonstrations against the state.
I am interested in whether the state auditor who makes recommendations implements his recommendations. Would he be happy for his neighbor to be Arab and would he employ senior Arabs if he had an independent business??? The answer is clear, understandable and logical. One of my friends who owns a large company balked at this because it is clear to him that those senior executives will see to it that their family members are brought into the business and this is the beginning of a deterioration. Enough with the hypocrisy!!!