1. ¯¯ ¯
The Center for Jewish – Arab Economic Development
Bar Lev
November 2009
www.cjaed.org.il
The Center for Jewish-Arab Economic
Development (CJAED) was established in 1988 by Ms.
Sarah Kreimer and a group of Jewish and Arab
businesspeople. The guiding principle of the Center is that
Jewish-Arab economic cooperation in Israel is essential for
peace, prosperity and economic stability in Israel and the
region at large. CJAED acts on the premise that Israel's
primary resource is its people, that Israel's strength lies in
its pluralism and democracy, and that the Arab
community must be integrated into the Israeli mainstream
economy and society.
Industrial Zones and Local Development
CJAED believes that economic integration can be initiated
through bold regional development, and has long
advocated for the inclusion of Arab municipalities in the
administration of regional industrial zones. Industrial
zones are geographic areas that the Ministry of Industry
and Trade endows with specific benefits to attract
businesses to an area. Administration and management of
a zone is typically the responsibility of local municipalities.
Industrial zones are effective tools to:
Increase employment opportunities
Attract new or expanding businesses
Create additional tax income for the municipalities
With both Jewish and Arab local governments facing land
shortages within their municipal boundaries, the Ministry
of Industry and Trade has encouraged cooperation via the
establishment of regional industrial zones between
neighboring municipalities. The Bar Lev Regional
Industrial Zone is the product of such an initiative and was
originally established as a regional economic development
area between the City of Karmiel, the Regional Council of
Misgav and the Regional Council of Mateh Asher. In 2003,
in response to CJAED’s persistent advocacy, the Ministry
of Industry and Trade encouraged the inclusion of the
Arab municipal region of Al-Shaghour.
CJAED Facilitates Expansion of Bar Lev
In 2003 CJAED was recruited by the Ministry for the
Development of the Galilee and the Negev to assist in the
expansion of the Bar Lev Regional Industrial Zone.
CJAED’s “on-the-ground” experience implementing
successful joint Jewish-Arab development projects was
essential in implementing a coherent, sustainable
expansion plan.
July 2009 marked the official inclusion of the “Al-
Shaghour” area villages of Deir al-Asad, Bine and Majd al-
Krum into the Bar Lev Regional Industrial Zone’s board
of managers. The new board’s equal allocation of
administrative responsibilities and revenue sharing make
Bar Lev a unique example of a shared Jewish and Arab
industrial zone. In response to the inclusion of the
Shaghour municipalities, the Israeli Government approved
a 1,800 dunam expansion of the zone and over 5 million
NIS to assist in planning and marketing.
Ensuring Success
Now that the “Al-Shaghour” municipalities have been
formally incorporated into the Bar Lev Regional Industrial
Zone, CJAED is working to ensure that the project’s
benefits are fully realized for all participants. The goal is
a cooperative economic environment for Jewish
and Arabs to train, study and initiate new
ventures together.
The Bar Lev Regional Industrial Zone
Of the 7085 dunams of industrial area in the Galilee,
87% is allocated to Jewish municipalities and just 13%,
is allocated to Arab municipalities. In this region Arabs
comprise over 50% of the population.
Joint Jewish Arab Industrial Zones
‫االقتصادي‬ ‫للتطوير‬ ‫العربي‬ ‫اليھودي‬ ‫المركز‬ ‫כלכלי‬ ‫לפיתוח‬ ‫ערבי‬ ‫היהודי‬ ‫המרכז‬
Center for Jewi sh–Ar ab Economi c Devel opment

2. ‫االقتصادي‬ ‫للتطوير‬ ‫العربي‬ ‫اليھودي‬ ‫المركز‬ ‫כלכלי‬ ‫לפיתוח‬ ‫ערבי‬ ‫היהודי‬ ‫המרכז‬
Center for Jewi sh–Ar ab Economi c Devel opment
Regional Objectives
CJAED’s continued involvement in the Bar Lev project is
driven by the following primary objectives:
Create new jobs and reduce unemployment
Increase entrepreneurial ventures in the area
Improve the management and planning capacity of
the participating municipalities
Increase tax revenues for Bar Lev municipalities
Develop an economic climate that leverages the
region’s diversity
To realize these objectives and ensure that the region is
fully prepared to benefit from the Bar Lev Industrial
Zone’s expansion, CJAED established an Employment
and Business Development Center (EBDC).
Services provided by the EBDC were developed in direct
response to a CJAED survey of over 500 local businesses
and manufacturers.
Employment Services
CJAED is providing vocational and skills training courses
tailored to regional employer needs. Concurrently, CJAED
staff performs individualized career counseling and
placements with area residents.
To date CJAED has administered:
Three professional computer skills training courses
o 50+ total students
Three vocational ‘call center’ courses
o 60+ total students
To facilitate increased efficiency and program awareness
CJAED recently launched the “AML” web portal
(www.aml.org.il) that connects local employers with the
region’s workers.
Small Business Services
CJAED staff regularly meets
with local entrepreneurs
interested in starting or
expanding their businesses.
Our staff has met with over 70
local entrepreneurs, providing
assistance and guidance on
issues such as financial and
loan assistance, business planning,
marketing and professional
mentorship. Additional achievements and goals include:
Established, in partnership with the UJC and JAFI,
$200,000 loan guarantee fund for small businesses
Administered a women’s entrepreneurship course
(20+ total students)
Established Al-Shaghour Business Forum with over
40 local business leaders, to offer guidance on
development services
Recruiting entrepreneurs for development of an in-
house, fully equipped business incubator
Bar Lev Planning and Management Support Services
CJAED staff is supporting the Al-Shaghour municipal
leadership with diverse financial and managerial assistance
to ease the transition into the Bar Lev Zone’s Management
Board.
Additionally, CJAED is overseeing the planning and
establishment of a Light Industry Zone for Green
Technologies and Commerce within Bar Lev, in an
effort to promote sustainable development in the Galilee.
CJAED Project Targets – Bar Lev
CJAED anticipates continued growth and success based
on current levels of investment in programming and
support services.
CJAED projected targets for the end of 2011:
400 area jobseekers trained and employed at
existing businesses
Creation of 20 small businesses employing up
to 100 area residents
Relocation of Hiram Industries, a large high-
tech company, employing up to 300 area
residents
CJAED would like to thank those partners who have contributed to Bar Lev’s continuing success:
Employment and Business Development
Center (EBDC) services include:
Employment Services
Small Business Services
Bar Lev Planning and Management
Support Services
November 2009
www.cjaed.org.il
CJAED Women’s
Entrepreneurship Course
FOHS
Foundation