Arab Joint List accuses Israeli government budget of discriminating against them

The Joint Arab List has protested against the Israeli government budget for 2015-2016 approved by the Knesset, saying the budget is “racist” and aims at tightening the occupation’s grip and expand the settlements .

Yesterday, the Israeli Knesset adopted the budget for 2015-2016 by a majority of 61 votes against 59.

The Knesset said in a statement that Israel’s budget for 2015 amounted to 383.86 billion shekels ($98 billion) and 424.81 billion shekels ($107 billion) for 2016.

“The general budget reveals the Israeli government’s extreme and racist policy, especially budgets allocated for the army and the settlements, where the defence ministry will receive nearly 60 billion shekels ($15.5 billion) alone,” the List said.

More than 1.4 million Arabs live in Israel and make up more than 20 per cent of the country’s eight million citizens, according to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics.