Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

Speaking at the beauty pageant of the Arab sector, Israel’s Culture Minister Raleb Majadele said that the duty of an Arab woman should be to build a good family, to be an aide to her husband and to stand by him. This issue links to both the external and communal obstacles preventing the integration of the Arab sector into Israel’s economy.

Due to traditional reasons requiring a woman to first and foremost manage the household and raise children, most Arab women don’t join the workforce. At the same time, Government neglect over the years has not created the right atmosphere and opportunities for women’s employment. This could take the form of building a more flexible transportation system to places of work as well as subsidies to nurseries and day care centers.

The need to overcome these external and communal obstacles and integrate Arab women into the workplace is a major aspect of Israel’s ability to economically leapfrog and reduce the gaps in the quality of life of its citizens (See ISRAEL 15 Vision)