Arab-Jewish center threatened with closure

The center has fallen on hard times in recent years following a decision by the city to stop funding it directly.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
The Beit Hagefen Arab-Jewish center in Haifa is operating at a deficit of NIS 3 to 5 million and is being threatened with closure, reports Yediot Haifa. The center, which opened in 1963 with the aim of creating a meeting place for the city's Arab and Jewish inhabitants, has fallen on hard times in recent years following a decision by the city to stop funding it directly and instead putting it under the control of the municipal culture and sports department. According to the report, the center's managers are saying that activities such as the theater, library, women's club and youth meetings are continuing as usual for now, but for how long no-one knows. Municipal officials and the center's management have been meeting to come up with a rescue plan, and the center's managers and employees have agreed to sacrifice a portion of their salaries so that the center can stay open. A municipal spokesman said the city considered the center's activities important and was helping to prepare a rehabilitation plan which would include a reduction in expenses and an increase in funding.