STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOSJERUSALEM - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Monday his ministry would unblock funds for Arab communities that he suspended saying the money was fuelling crime, triggering outrage from Arab mayors and some Arab and Jewish lawmakers.
Arab councils held a strike last week in protest and community leaders demonstrated outside government offices. The National Committee of Arab Local Councils in Israel accused Smotrich of racism. "We are stopping the criminal organisations from taking over the budgets that go to the Arab authorities," Smotrich said.