Following Adalah’s Petition, Israeli Ministry of Culture and Sports Designates NIS 775,000 for Arab Children’s Activities during Eid al-Fitr and Christmas

In its response to Adalah’s petition to the Israeli Supreme Court, the Ministry of Culture and Sports announced at the end of July 2012, a new program called “Holiday of the Holidays,” which will provide free theater tickets for Arab children throughout the school vacations for the coming Eid al-Fitr Muslim holiday (after Ramadan this month) and during Christmas in 90 Arab towns across the country.  The response added that there has been contact with Arab theaters to make the arrangements, and that the Ministry had allocated NIS 775,000 (approximately US $193,750) to the program.

The Ministry informed local Arab authorities of the program and how to apply through the assigned managing company “Turbut Yisrael.” As of 31 July 2012, only 26 of the eligible Arab municipalities had applied.

In reply to the Ministry’s answer, Adalah Attorney Sawsan Zaher commented: “The Ministry’s response states that the program requires the local authority to provide “appropriate rooms” and to sign contracts with the company assigned to manage the program in order to receive the funding for free cultural programs. Therefore, we fear that these conditions will be obstacles for local authorities and therefore Arab children might still not have free cultural performances during their holiday vacations.”

Adalah petitioned the Supreme Court on 2 April 2012 against the Ministry of Culture and Sports demanding that it offer free cultural programs to all children - Jewish and Arab – during the Passover holiday. The Ministry of Culture held a program called "Afikomen" during the April holidays, and funded the full cost of plays and cultural events for children in 110 Jewish towns in peripheral areas, outside of the big cities. Not one Arab town was included on the list although Arab schools are also closed at the same time for the Easter holiday and spring vacation for other Arab schools. Attorney Zaher filed the petition on behalf of two first-grade Arab students from Yafta Nazareth.

Adalah argued in the petition that the exclusion of Arab students amounts to unacceptable discrimination between Arab and Jewish children, and violates the children's constitutional right to equality.

For more information, see:

Adalah Press Release, 25 April 2012 - Israeli Supreme Court Permits Ministry of Culture-Sponsored Programs for Jewish Children Only during Spring Passover/Easter School Vacation