Last update - 00:00 25/09/2007
Ben-Eliezer: Continued neglect of Israeli Arabs may spark 'internal Intifada'
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Fuad Ben-Eliezer warned the Council for Peace and Security on Tuesday that the government's continued neglect of Israeli Arabs may lead to an "internal intifada," or uprising.
MK Ben-Eliezer added that this neglect may cause the Israeli Arab population to rebel against Israel, despite most the desire of most Israeli Arabs to integrate rather than "stay on the sidelines."
At the voluntary body's meeting on Tuesday, Ben-Eliezer recalled that Yitzhak Rabin's government dealt intensively with issues affecting Israeli Arabs, and while Ehud Barak was prime minister, he implemented a NIS 4 billion plan to advance the Israeli Arab population.
Ben Eliezer told the council that even former prime minister Ariel Sharon was open to discussing issues concerning Israeli Arabs, although he never implemented any kind of program to benefit the sector.
"There is (currently) no infrastructure plan for the Israeli Arab sector," Ben-Eliezer warned.
The infrastructure minister also expressed concern for Israeli Arab representation in the Knesset, as he said calls to boycott elections were gaining strength in the sector. He added that the northern branch of Sheikh Ra'ed Salah's Islamic movement was heading the push.
Salah's group in August hailed a young Israeli Arab who was killed after he shot at Israeli security guards in Jerusalem a martyr.
The Council for Peace and Security met on Tuesday for its second discussion on "Arabs in Israel," after prominent Arab groups recently published four documents calling for a change in the state's treatment of them.
Ben-Eliezer told Haaretz earlier Tuesday that Israel should free imprisoned Fatah boss Marwan Barghouti, as he would become the Palestinians' next leader.