Prime Minister Ariel Sharon this morning (Tuesday), 10.8.04, visited the Negev city of Rahat.

The visit was held in the wake of Rahat Mayor Talal Al-Karinawi’s invitation.  Industry, Trade and Employment Minister Ehud Olmert and Education, Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat also participated in the visit.

Prime Minister Sharon dedicated a school established by Mifal Hapayis-Israel National Lottery and viewed the area south of the city in which new neighborhoods are planned.

At a meeting approximately three months ago between Prime Minister Sharon and Mifal Hapayis Chairman Shimon Katzenelson, the latter proposed that the Prime Minister dedicate schools in the framework of Mifal Hapayis’s project to build new classrooms.

Prime Minister Sharon agreed and asked to dedicate a school in Rahat.

Rahat Mayor Talal Al-Karinawi thanked Prime Minister Sharon and ministers Olmert and Livnat for advancing issues related to the Bedouin sector: “Prime minister Sharon’s visit to Rahat is his second in the past year to Bedouin communities in the Negev; this fact, more than anything, symbolizes the Prime Minister’s good intentions of improving the situation of Bedouin residents and communities in the Negev.”

Mayor Al-Karinawi said that the community center that was dedicated had been planned in 1972: “We waited 32 years, Mr. Prime Minister, until you came and completed its construction.  We all know that you respect the Bedouin community.  Not every Israeli mayor meets the Prime Minister as often as I.”

Education, Culture and Sports Minister Livnat said that four years ago, 37% of Rahat students did not finish their studies and that today the number has declined to 12%.  She added that four years ago, the proportion of those eligible to take the matriculation exams was a mere 32% and today the number is 45%: “There is much left to aspire for and there is much to improve but we will not stop investing.”

Prime Minister Sharon referred to his aforementioned meeting with Mifal Hapayis Chairman Katzenelson and told why he had decided to dedicate a school in Rahat. He added that As someone who has lived in the Negev for many years, and having served as OC Southern Command before that, I have longstanding personal ties with the Bedouin community.  We are very much interested in Rahat being a showcase for the Negev Bedouin.”

Prime Minister Sharon also discussed the state budget and said that We gave considerable scope in the budget for social action.  And still, those who can work should go to work; it cannot be that projects in the country do not advance on account of a lack of workers.
Prime Minister Sharon said that his government has accelerated all processes regarding the Bedouin sector and reiterated his intention to continue doing so. He added that he the Arab population in general, and the Negev Bedouin population in particular, will have a significant role to play as we succeed in reaching peace: "I believe in living together."

Prime Minister Sharon said that at the special discussion held late last January by the Ministerial Committee on the Non-Jewish Sector, which he chairs, he ordered the establishment of a police station in Rahat by the end of the summer.  He said that he was pleased to hear from Public Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi that the latter had dedicated the station a few weeks ago.

At the aforementioned meeting, Prime Minister Sharon had also directed that the issue of a joint industrial and employment zone in the Lehavim area be advanced.  The plans for are in the advanced planning stages and are due to be submitted to the regional committee within a few weeks.

Prime Minister Sharon has set the advancement of the non-Jewish sector as one of the goals for the 2005 budget.

On the occasion of Prime Minister Sharon’s visit to Rahat, Mifal Hapayis has decided to contribute a computer classroom, including approximately 20 computer stations, to Rahat’s children.

Mifal Hapayis and the education, culture and sports Ministry have funded the construction of more than 75 classrooms in Rahat over the past two years.

The Prime Minister’s Office Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, headed by Yehudit Plotkin, has initiated several projects in the Rahat area, including: a course to accredit women to advance community projects (in cooperation with the Mayor’s Adviser on the Advancement of the Status Women), a joint forum for advisers on the advancement of the status of women and Bedouin sector authority heads, and a project for business initiatives for Bedouin women in Rahat.  Prime Minister Sharon warmly thanked Ms. Plotkin for her efforts.

The Prime Minister’s Office Anti-Drugs Authority is currently planning several projects for 2005, including: appropriate allocations for the war on drugs in Rahat and its environs, establishing a special school in order to teach parents hoe to identify and deal with children who use drugs, training teachers and establishing a center to treat young people and adults on drugs (in coordination with the Health and welfare ministries). 

Prime Minister Sharon thanked Anti-Drugs Authority Director Haim Messing for his efforts and noted that he viewed the aforementioned projects as of the utmost importance.