MK Abbas discusses Arab integration in Israeli hi-tech

“Israel doesn’t have too much gas or oil, but it has human resources” said Abbas at Cybertech Global TLV

Photo by Gilad Kavalerchik

Israeli Member of Knesset Mansour Abbas, head of the Ra’am party – the first Arab party to ever be included in an Israeli coalition, spoke today (Thursday) at Cybertech Global TLV about the inclusion of the country’s Arab society in its hi-tech sector.

“Everything we do is for the young people. This isn’t to say that we’re not working for all of society – we’re creating hope for everyone, but what I see in front of me is especially the young generation, we’re working on programs to create better opportunities for them,” said Abbas.

Abbas discussed some of the main blockages that the Arab citizens of Israel face when attempting to integrate, and how to mitigate them.

“The first blockage we want to address is the psychological one – we don’t want anyone to feel like there is a glass ceiling, no obstacles. And if there is a ceiling – break it."

Another blockage currently being addressed is the need to provide relevant tools. Abbas mentioned the new five-year government plan for the economic development of Arabs in Israel. “It is actually comprised of 27 plans, and one deals with cyber and hi-tech integration. The government will invest almost NIS 600 million in the Arab society, for its tech advancement. Money is invested in schools, tech parks, hubs, development centers and more.”

MK Abbas added that “The Arab society has great potential, and desire to progress as far as higher education.” He mentioned at 60% of Arab students at the Technion (Israel’s top-notch technological university) are women.

“Today the inclination is to pursue healthcare professions. It’s good - but we’re interested in more and more students getting into the hi-tech sector,” said Abbas. “Just like we were successful in healthcare, I think that hi-tech can be a fertile ground of working together.

"We said that we would form a partnership. I want this political partnership to expand to other areas in Israeli society - to hi-tech, and elsewhere.

“Israel doesn’t have too much gas, oil, but it has human resources – and we can still drill there, we’ve only uncovered the top layer.”

Watch MK Mansour Abbas on the Cybertech stage: