Netanyahu’s  government has just been announced, and The Abraham Fund Initiatives sees grounds for optimism in the appointment of Labour’s Avishai Braverman as Minister-without-Portfolio for minorities. The Jerusalem Post published TAFI Israel’s statement, which reads as follows:

“There is a necessity for courageous dialogue between the government and the Arab leadership”

The Abraham Fund Initiatives, an organization promoting social inclusion and equality between Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens, commends the appointment of Avishai Braverman as Minister-without-Portfolio for minorities.  The Abraham Fund expresses hope that the appointment will mark a shift in the state’s relations towards its Arab citizens.

The Abraham Fund hopes that Braverman’s balanced views coupled with his economic experience and knowledge of the Negev will help him in facing the great challenges ahead.

At the top of Braverman’s agenda are the need for courageous dialogue between the government and the Arab leadership; advancement of equitable budgetary allocations; integration of the Arab population into the Israeli economy and work force, especially university graduates and Arab women; fair representation of the Arab population in the civil service; advancement of solutions to the distress of the Bedouin community in the Negev and the struggle against racism toward Israel’s Arab citizens.