On June 2, 2024, ACRI sent legal correspondence (Hebrew) to the Minister of Social Equality on behalf of the National Committee of Heads of Arab Local Authorities, urging the immediate convening of the Standing Committee for the Implementation of the Five-Year Plan for Arab Society. Established under Government Decision No. 550, which outlines the economic plan to reduce disparities in Arab society by 2026, the committee’s convening is crucial for the plan’s execution. Although the committee is required to meet at least twice a year, it has not convened at all in 2024. Since the correspondence, May Golan has taken over as Minister.
Attorney Gadeer Nicola from ACRI detailed the critical functions of the Standing Committee, which are vital for the effective implementation of the Five-Year Plan. These functions include: approving annual work plans, authorizing modifications to plans, overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the resolution, resolving disputes and addressing barriers, and making necessary budgetary adjustments. Nicola contended that failing to convene the committee is an unreasonable decision that hampers the plan’s execution, obstructs the participation of Arab local authorities, and undermines the plan’s effectiveness and adaptability, particularly in the context of the ongoing war. Furthermore, this inaction jeopardizes transparency, partnership, and the trust that Resolution 550 aimed to foster. “These actions have a direct impact on the lives and rights of Arab citizens across all socioeconomic spheres and thwart the goal of the Five-Year Plan to bridge the gaps between Arab and Jewish communities,” she asserted in the correspondence.