By Abdelraouf Arnaout
JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday gave a conditional approval for releasing the funds allocated for Arab municipalities in Israel.
Smotrich said the money will be released provided that an oversight mechanism will be established to ensure no funds go to "criminal organizations."
“I’m happy that we have full cooperation” on the oversight mechanism, Smotrich told Israeli Army Radio.
He added that the oversight mechanism would apply to all funding, from all ministries, for Arab municipalities.
Early in August, the finance minister refused to release the allocated funding to Arab municipalities despite warnings from Israeli security authorities, a position that drew fire from Israeli opposition groups.
Several protests were organized in front of the Finance Ministry building in West Jerusalem to protest Smotrich's decision.
The new-released funds are estimated at 200 million Israeli Shekels ($53 million) and were approved as part of a plan announced by the previous Israeli government in 2022.
According to the latest official data, Israel’s Arab population is estimated at over 2 million, constituting 21% of the country’s total population of 9.7 million.
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar