Published: 29 August 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Arab towns are reeling from a crime wave that has killed 159 people this year. The societal breakdown has become a key issue for democracy protesters.
Israel’s surging crime wave in Arab communities has become a major threat to elections in Arab municipalities.
The Kan public broadcaster reported that there are 15-20 Arab-majority municipalities where candidates and incumbents were being threatened by criminal organisations. Elections are set for October 31.
The municipal director of the Arab city of Tira, Abdel Rahman Kashua, was shot dead in the central city last week. His death was one of six in a week, bringing the number of murders in Israel’s Arab communities this year to 159. Most of the cases are believed to be linked to organised crime.
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai are meeting with the Arab municipal heads this week to address the threats. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is withholding funds from Arab municipalities, and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel were also to take part in the meeting, but National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is notably not included.
Protesters demonstrating against Israel’s government for a 34th consecutive week have turned their attention to surging crime in Arab communities.
With the legislative push to weaken the judiciary on hold for the Knesset’s summer recess, anti-government demonstrators have increasingly highlighted other grievances during recent protests, including recent incidents of discrimination against women and the sway religious parties hold on the ruling coalition.
Saturday night’s protest in Tel Aviv included a keynote Arab speaker, Tira Mayor Mamoun Abd al-Hay, in the wake of the death of his municipal chief.
“Blood is flowing in our streets, and what do the governments of Israel do? Dismantle the police, halt budgets that are supposed to go toward education,” al-Hay said in his address, referencing funds frozen by F Smotrich for Arab municipalities.
