Israel allocates $202m to boost Hebrew proficiency among Arab citizens

The Israeli government has announced a $202 million initiative to improve Hebrew language proficiency among Palestinian citizens of Israel. The programme aims to “foster social integration and reduce crime” in Arab communities, reports the Jewish News Syndicate (JNA) citing a joint statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the Ministry of Education.

“Hebrew language proficiency is essential for full integration into Israeli society,” the statement said.

Netanyahu was quoted as saying the plan was “a strategic step” towards integrating “Israeli Arabs” into society and addressing rising crime rates. Describing it as a “major financial investment,” he asserted that it will directly impact integration and cooperation between Jewish and Arab communities.

The programme will focus on improving teacher training, enhancing teaching and assessment methods, and advancing spoken Hebrew skills. Education Minister Yoav Kisch called it an opportunity to “enable growth for the Arab community and strengthen Israeli society as a whole.”

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Social Equality Minister May Golan meanwhile noted that the plan “includes enforcement measures to ensure Arabic-speaking students genuinely learn Hebrew as part of a mandatory framework.”

The occupation government’s statement stressed that better Hebrew skills would create new employment opportunities for Arabs, increase access to essential services and promote collaboration between communities. The Ministry of Education will oversee the programme’s implementation, with a focus on establishing effective management systems to guarantee its success.

There are more than two million Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, making up approximately 21 per cent of Israel’s population. While Arabic is the first language for many of these citizens, Hebrew proficiency is often seen as crucial for accessing higher education, employment and state services. However, despite having the same legal rights as Jewish citizens, many continue to face discrimination and socioeconomic disadvantages.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Israel maintains a “two tiered-citizenship structure and bifurcation of nationality and citizenship result in Palestinian citizens having a status inferior to Jewish citizens by law.

This, the rights group added, is part of the apartheid system Israel has imposed on Palestinians, which is “deliberately engineered” and “furthers the goal of domination”.

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