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On December 30th 2015, the Israeli government approved a groundbreaking, five-year economic development plan for the Arab sector, aimed at tackling major gaps between Jews and Arabs in the Israeli society. This comprehensive plan calls for allocations of NIS 10-15 billion for the development of Arab communities in various fields such as education, transportation, welfare services , employment and housing.
A yearlong deliberations between the Ministry of Finance, the Authority for Economic Development of the Arab Sector and Arab leadership brought to fruition a comprehensive plan, unprecedented both in scope and in the system-wide change to government allocation mechanisms, ensuring that Arab citizens will be budgeted in accordance to their 20% share in society.
Amir Levi, Director of the Budgets Department at the Ministry of Finance, played a key role in the spearheading and drafting of the Plan. He spoke to a Task Force audience about why the Ministry of Finance considers this Plan crucial for Israel’s economic sustainability, its key features as well as main fields of investment.
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About the Speaker
Amir Levi has served as director of the budgets department of Israel’s Ministry of Finance since 2013. From 1996 to 2006, he held a number of positions at the Ministry, including deputy budget director for the energy, water, communications, industry and tourism sectors. From 2006 until he was appointed director of the budgets department in 2013, Amir was the CEO of Shikun & Binui Holdings Ltd., a publicly traded Israeli company which has banking, energy, construction, real estate, and infrastructures activities. Amir holds an M.A. in economics and political science and an M.A. in economics, both from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.