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Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Statementat the Laying of the Cornerstone of the Teneh Chicken Factory in Segev Shalom /Translation. |
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| 13/01/2004 |
I would like to begin by mentioning Sheikh Uda Abu Muamar, whom I have known for dozens of years, and whom I met in Israels wars. During the Yom Kippur War he served as a staff officer in my division, across the channel in Egypt.
I am mentioning Sheikh Uda not only as a friend and an active security officer for many years (when I got tired I used to come to his tent, and when we lay on the mattresses and leaned back on the cushions, he played the Rababa for me), but I mention him here especially in light of our years-long friendly relations, in which he has never abandoned his Bedouin pride. This pride was a central aspect of his being.
I am mentioning him especially since we are making an effort, and will make great efforts, to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians and with our neighboring countries. I always envision the proud image of Sheikh Uda, together with his full cooperation with Israel, as an example to show that it is possible to coexist. And coexistence is possible.
Life in Israel is special. In addition, our democracy is very complex; Jews, Arabs, Bedouins, Druse, Haredim, religious and secular. In order to enable coexistence in a democratic regime as we all wish for, two things have to occur here: the first is that the law must be fully upheld. The second is that justice must be done. And if we all succeed in preserving these two, I think there is a very bright and positive prospect for coexistence. Looking back, as a child in the moshav, I could not imagine that one day we would not live side by side. And I say coexistence is possible.
I convey special greetings to the Bedouin soldiers who have come from the Gaza Strip, and who I saw marching earlier. I hope a day will come in which we will not be in the Gaza Strip, and you will be truly free do more essential things.
I wish to again thank Mayor Amar Abu Muamar for his hospitality. I am happy to be your guest in your capacity as the Mayor and your guest as a close friend of your father.
This factory, for which we will lay the cornerstone (I usually like coming to opening ceremonies for factories when a button is pressed and everything starts working, not to mention the chickens who will not be so happy when everything starts working, but laying a cornerstone is also important). This factory serves as testimony for the priority we wish to give to the Bedouin sector.
A great effort has been invested by the Prime Ministers Office (and I mentioned the Director-General of the Prime Ministers Office, Avigdor Itzchaky), and by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, in order to approve the assistance for this factory, which will provide hundreds of workplaces for Bedouins in the Negev.
I am not certain we would have made such a great effort to help elsewhere.
As a resident of the Negev, and commander of many Bedouin soldiers, I know the Bedouins well. I attribute great importance to assisting the Bedouin sector in the south of the country. Since I began my role as Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for the Non-Jewish Sector, we have accelerated all processes related to the Bedouin sector in the Negev. Today, without any relation to this event, a meeting of the Committee was held, in which, I learned, three of the new [Bedouin] settlements we planned were already approved, and two more are about to be approved. Therefore it is not the case that things we said have not been implemented. They are implemented.
There is rapid advancement in issues which were stuck for many years.
In the framework of our policy of boosting the non-Jewish population of Israel, I have today issued a directive not to approve the appointment of new directors in [Government] companies which do not have at least one Arab director. And another directive dictates that until one Arab director is appointed, other directors will not be appointed. Today, this serves as an unequivocal instruction.
I have served with Bedouin friends in Israels wars. Fouad Ben-Eliezer is here, and I think that he too fought at the side of Bedouin soldiers, during difficult periods. I fought at their side in dangerous battles. I attribute great importance to the recruitment of Bedouins to the IDF.
I wanted to tell you that I recently spoke to the Chairman of Mifal Hapayis and we decided he would ask approval of his directorate to grant full three-year scholarships to soldiers from minority sectors who served in IDF combat units.
Bedouin combat soldiers who will receive this scholarship will be able to study for a bachelors degree without paying tuition fees.
There are more steps which I have charged the Vice Prime Minister with implementing regarding relief to soldiers, as we do in the north of the country we will also do so here.
Ehud and I touched upon a few things here, things are being done, and much remains to be done. We are with you, and I always instruct Government offices to work with you. We will do so.
Thank you very much and good luck.
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