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Published 16:37 01.06.10
Latest update 16:37 01.06.10


Braverman: Israel should embrace its Arabs, Haredim.

Israel should do more to integrate its Arab and Haredi sectors,
Minister of Minority Affairs Avishay Braverman said on Tuesday, the
third day of the "Democracy and its Challenges" conference sponsored
by the French Embassy in cooperation with Haaretz.

"David Ben Gurion wanted Israel to be a light onto the nations – a
moral leader and a nation of justice and equality," Braverman said.
"This requires long-term vision, which is tough in a world where what
is pressing pushes aside what is important, when we are enslaved by
ratings and finances."

Braverman said that the Haredim should be embraced in the workplace
and that more resources should be allocated for Arabs. He said he is
working on a plan for the coming decade incorporating those goals.

"Thus we will realize Ben Gurion's vision of a nation that is a
renewable light unto the nations," he said.

"We have more startups than Europe. We succeeded in building a
terrific state – the state of Tel Aviv. But Israel is Carthage,
without the Negev. We have the most unequal society among western
nations. When we founded the nation, we were one of the most equal
societies."
http://www.haaretz.com/news/democracy-and-its-challenges/braverman-israel-should-embrace-its-arabs-haredim-1.293566