The Lack of Shelters in Arab Communities Must Be Rectified
- ACRI
- Jun 22
- 3 min read
As a result of the war with Iran, the Ministry of Defense and Home Front Command decided to deploy protective shelters funded by the state in the Gush Dan area in central Israel, particularly in places where there is a shortage of public shelters and buildings without safe rooms. The media also reported on the intention to expand the deployment of protective shelters later to other areas as well. We subsequently approached the Commander of the Home Front Command, the Minister of Defense, and the Minister of the Interior, demanding that these protective shelters be expanded to Arab communities as well.
In ACRI's appeal, Attorney Abir Joubran noted that the plans for increased shelters is worthy, necessary, and life-saving, and reflects an understanding of the state's obligations toward its citizens. However, the situation in Arab communities is dire: in many villages and cities there are no public shelters at all, and no temporary or permanent protective shelters have been set up. Residents living in houses without permits are not allowed to build safe rooms, even if they are willing to finance them themselves. The letter included data from the State Comptroller's report from 2018 and a report by the Knesset Research and Information Center at the end of 2023, illustrating the gaps between Jewish and Arab communities when it comes to shelters:
Almost half of Israel's Arab citizens—about 550,000 people—live in houses without protected spaces, compared to about 26% of the general public.
Out of 71 Arab local authorities examined in the Comptroller's report, public shelters were found in only 11 of them.
About 130,000 students—approximately a third of all students in Arab society—study in educational institutions without any protection, or where existing protections do not meet the needs of all students.
In about 29% of Arab schools in the Arab public education system there is no protection at all, or only partial protection. This is in contrast to the 13% of public schools and 12% of public-religious schools in the Jewish education system.
More than 150,000 citizens living in unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev live in shacks and temporary structures. They have no ability to protect themselves and no local authority to handle these issues. When sirens sound, they take shelter under bridges and in holes dug in the ground.
Attorney Joubran noted that the lack of protection in Arab communities is a product of discriminatory planning policies and years of neglect, which did not allow for proactive planning and construction of protective infrastructure. She argued that in the absence of planning, budgeting, and government support, it is unreasonable to place the responsibility for intervening and solving these issues solely on local authorities is unreasonable. The duty to act falls on the state, particularly on the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and the Home Front Command.
"While the state allocates significant resources to protecting Jewish communities - including illegal settlements and outposts in the West Bank - it refrains from acting in the same manner in Arab communities, thereby leaving hundreds of thousands without a protective solution," was written in the appeal. "This situation is not only immoral but also unconstitutional and grossly violates the right to equality, and the state's obligations to protect the right to life, protection, and security."
This is the second time that we have sent an appeal demanding that the government address the dangerous lack of shelters and protective spaces in Arab communities. Shortly after the outbreak of the war in October 2023 we sent a similar appeal, and time has, unfortunately, proven our concerns to be valid and prescient regarding the lack of protection from rocket and missile fire in Arab communities. We will continue to pursue all avenues until the state fulfills its responsibility to protect its Arab citizens and residents by ensuring quick and sufficient access to protective shelters.
ACRI's appeal, June 19, 2025 (Heb)
ACRI's appeal, October 22, 2023 (Heb)
We have not forgotten: 🛑 Stop the killing and starvation in Gaza 🛑 Stop the abandonment of the hostages 🛑 End the war. Now.
