While Aviv Canaani was an assistant to the Minister of Minorities in Israel, Prof. Avishay Braverman he participated in the Change Agent’s Course for Up and Coming Politicians. Aviv was motivated to advance the rate of employment of Arabs in government offices. In the past, there were decisions in the government to advance the representation of the Arab population in government positions and the goal was to reach 10% but the government never implemented this. In Aviv’s analysis, he believed there was a need to market the idea within government agencies.

After months of intensive work and coordination with all relevant government bodies, Aviv Canaani convened a meeting with the Minister’s Committee for Arab Affairs and the Civil Service Administration. Together, they drafted a proposal for a new law. The goal was to market the appropriate Arab representation in government offices in a more efficient and effective way. There were strategies:

1. Convince the civil service administration and the decision makers in the different government offices that the goal of appropriate representation of Arabs is something of the utmost importance and that they have to act more intensively to reach the goal the government set.
2. Convince the Arab minority that government offices are indeed opening for them and it is worthwhile to submit their applications for positions. It is important to mention that only 1% of people who submit job application to government positions are Arabs.

The proposal was accepted by the government and Aviv was involved in its implementation during the course.

Aviv Canaani later drafted opposition to a law that was proposed by Israel Beitanoo political party that wanted to advance affirmative action for employment of ex-Army soldiers in government position. Such decisions are discriminatory against Arabs employment in government as the majority of the Arab population do not serve in the army. As a result of this opposition the proposed law was defeated.

Creating Change Agents: Israelis and Palestinians Up and Coming Politicians in Dialogue and Action” was made possible with the generous support of USAID and the American People in cooperation with the School for Peace at Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam and Tawasul.