Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality
פורום דו-קיום בנגב לשוויון אזרחי
منتدى التعايش السلمي في النقب من أجل المساواة المدنية

Demand for immediate reinforcement of bank’s branches in Bedouin localities!

13.05.2020

With 41 Celsius degrees outside and a 5 hours wait, under fasting: Tens of thousands of families remain untreated, with only two branches of banks that supposed to serve 255,000 Arab Bedouin citizens of the Naqab. Together with Sidreh Association, we contacted the Israeli Post Office and the Ministry of Communications, demanding immediate reinforcement of the Post Bank branches especially during

The shortage of bank branches is always an obstacle for Bedouins citizens, but during an economic crisis, when many more were added to the poverty cycle and unemployment, this becomes an urgent need. The state’s deliberate neglect of the seven townships over decades led to the highest poverty rate (66.6%) and the country’s highest unemployment rate, along with high crime rates and other socioeconomic problems.

In the photo: The enterance of Bank Mercantil in the township of Rahat during allowences payment day, 22.4.2020 (Unknown photographer).