Approximately 100 workers employed as part of an Israel Railways project – most of them Arabs with Israeli citizenship – have been fired due to new regulations in the company requiring supervising employees to have completed service in the Israel Defense Forces.
Israel Railways says IDF service has become mandatory due to security department decisions, as well as the company's interest in providing jobs for veterans in the more difficult economy.
However, the company also says it will reserve 30 positions for Arabs, in locations where Arabic language skills are needed.
The outsourcing company employing the terminated workers – the Hashmira company – says it will locate adequate employees for Israel Railways, and will continue to place those who did not complete army service in other positions throughout Israel.
Arab Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List – Ta'al) called the decision racist and discriminatory.