The Israel Hayom conference on socioeconomic issues in March will include a special session devoted to building social resilience and integrating Arab Israelis into the country's social fabric.
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Israel's Arab population makes up two million people, the second-largest in the country. In the last two decades, it has changed significantly both due to new views and norms, such as women's employment, and a shift in institutional approaches, such as government investment in the sector.
The ties between the Arab public and the State of Israel have been impacted by two major events: the October 2000 riots, which marked the outbreak of the Second Intifada, and Israel joining the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The gap between Israel's Jewish and Arab populations is estimated at 30 years, which is also reflected with official data, although it is closing. For example, the unemployment rate in the Arab sector continues to decline both to young Arab Israelis receiving an academic education, especially women, and governmental investment in job incentive programs.
The development of the high-tech field and the demand for workers has also impacted the population. In 2008, 400 Arabs were working in the field, while by 2022, the number has increased to 10,000. A significant portion of employees are women, which has increased the demand for engineering and exact sciences.
There was also an increase in Arab start-up companies. Out of Israel's 8,800 start-ups, over 120 are run by Arab entrepreneurs. Exports by Arab companies have also grown.
The session will be moderated by media adviser and journalist Jalal Bana, and will include businessman Samer Nakhly; Dr. Meir Elran, head of the Homeland Security Program, the Institute for National Security Studies' research program on the Arab citizens in Israel; Ariela Rejwan, executive director at the Jerusalem Municipality; and Hans Shakur, entrepreneur, working to advance high-tech, innovation and economic development in the Arab sector in partnership with Tsofen.
Founded in 2008, Tsofen is a non-profit organization established by Jewish and Arab high-tech professionals and economists who aspired to develop the high-tech sector in the Arab community as an economic lever and catalyst for a shared society in Israel.
The conference is scheduled to take place at Binyanei HaUma in Jerusalem on March 30. It will be held in Hebrew, in person and will also be livestreamed on the Israel Hayom Hebrew website (www.israelhayom.co.il) and mobile app. To register, click here
