Following fierce protests over the violent deaths of 26 women in 2018, Israel’s government has approved a budget of around twelve million euros for the fight against domestic violence. However, several women’s organizations have called for a five times higher budget for the protection of women.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that the government is determined to fight against violence against women. The plan will focus particularly on the Arab sector because the problem is more pronounced there.
Minister of Finance Moshe Kachlon said: „Violence against women is a social evil we need to do everything we can to help.“ Part of the plan also included treatment programs for violent men, the Netanyahu bureau said.
26 women killed in the previous year
A total of 26 women died in domestic violence last year after media reports in Israel. Many of them belong to the Arab minority. During heavy street protests, the government was accused of not doing enough to stop violence against women because most of the victims belonged to marginalized groups.
According to the women’s organization Wizo, the number of women living in domestic violence in Israel is estimated at around 200,000. About half a million children are witnesses of this violence. Israel has about nine million inhabitants, about a fifth of them Arabs.
