Braverman: Private Arab, Jewish businessmen to underwrite most of fund.
By ASSOCIATED PRESSbraverman , labor 298(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Israel is launching a $50 million fund for the country's Arab development, Minorities Affairs Minister Avishay Braverman told Israel Radio Tuesday.Private Arab and Jewish businessmen will underwrite most of the fund, and the government will chip in the rest, he said.When he announced the launch, Braverman said that the "economic potential of Israel in the Arab population is enormous."Arab citizens make up about one-fifth of Israel's population.Jafar Farah of the Arab advocacy organization Mossawa Center welcomedthe investment but pointed to inequalities in public transportation,schools and roads. Farah said "the private sector is important, butit's not enough."
