Escalating Violent Crime Ravages Israel’s Palestinian Minority during Netanyahu’s Government

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Israel’s Palestinian minority is grappling with an unprecedented surge in violent crime, transforming cities and towns into battlegrounds and exacerbating the sense of abandonment among the community due to the Israeli authorities’ perceived indifference.

Frustration over the mounting insecurity is primarily directed at Israel’s government and its ultranationalist police minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Critics argue that his history of anti-Arab rhetoric undermines trust in his ability to address the escalating crisis.

The alarming increase in violence lays bare the deep-seated inequalities within Israeli society, where Arabs have endured years of discrimination that activists claim have laid the foundation for the ongoing bloodshed.

According to the Abraham Initiatives, an organization promoting Jewish-Arab coexistence and safe communities, the number of deaths resulting from violent crime in Arab communities this year has exceeded 100, nearly three times higher than the same period last year. Official figures indicate that this murder rate is over three times higher than that of the majority Jewish sector, despite Arabs comprising only one-fifth of the country’s 9.7 million population.

Authorities claim to be doing their utmost to address the issue. However, activists see a direct correlation between the alarming statistics and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The coalition, which includes ultranationalist factions with anti-Arab sentiments, assumed power in late December.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of one of these parties, Jewish Power, has a history of making racist remarks and was previously convicted of incitement to violence and supporting a Jewish extremist group. As the minister of national security, he now oversees the country’s police force.

Thabet Abu Rass, co-director of the Abraham Initiatives, questions the ability of a person who consistently makes racist comments about Arabs to protect them. He emphasizes that as citizens of the country, the Palestinian minority deserves the same level of security as anyone else and that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure this.

In recent years, Israel’s Palestinian minority, comprising 20% of the population, has been plagued by violent crime related to criminal gangs and family disputes.

Activists argue that Israeli authorities have historically disregarded deadly crimes within Arab communities, taking minimal action to deter violence or hold criminals accountable. They assert that this sense of neglect has deepened under the current government. Out of the approximately 100 people killed this year, charges have been brought in only slightly over 10 cases, according to Abu Rass.

Although Ben-Gvir has pledged to serve all Israelis, the Palestinian minority perceives his past remarks and perceived negligence regarding the crisis as indicative of a government that fails to prioritize their well-being.

Recent incidents, such as a shooting at a car wash near Nazareth that resulted in five deaths, with the shooter still at large, and the murder of the mayor’s bodyguard in an Arab city, underscore the vulnerability of women and children. For example, an 18-year-old who had reportedly received threats due to her sexual orientation was recently killed. Additionally, in May, a father allegedly murdered his two toddler children and their mother.

Shootings have become so commonplace in some areas that residents fear leaving their homes, not only to protect themselves but also to avoid inadvertently witnessing crimes and becoming targets of the assailants.

Mirvat Saleh, a 48-year-old plant and flower vendor in the violence-ridden mixed Arab-Jewish city of Lod, expresses the constant fear experienced by herself and her family. She worries for the safety of her children when they are at school and dreads the uncertainty of whether they will return home unharmed.

Critics argue that under Ben-Gvir’s leadership, the police force is in disarray, evident through a crisis of confidence within its ranks, including conflicts between the minister and the police chief, as well as the departure of several high-ranking officers, including the head of the unit responsible for combating crime within the Arab population.

Ben-Gvir attributes the challenges to staffing shortages, further exacerbated by weekly mass protests against a government plan to overhaul the judiciary that require additional security measures. He and the police chief are reportedly making concerted efforts to address the underlying issues.

Ben-Gvir has proposed the establishment of a new “national guard,” which he believes will enhance community policing. Critics, however, argue that this guard, reporting directly to Ben-Gvir, would essentially serve as a personal militia for the minister.

Netanyahu maintains that his governments have allocated significant resources to combatting crime over the years. He has recently met with Arab leaders, pledging to crack down on the issue. A committee has been formed to address the problem, and he has even promised to involve the Shin Bet domestic security agency.

“We are resolute in restoring law and order in the face of this violent crime. We will take any necessary measures,” Netanyahu affirmed.

The involvement of the Shin Bet, which predominantly focuses on monitoring Palestinian militants, has raised concerns due to its historical reluctance to employ its surveillance tools against Israeli citizens. Reports from Israeli media suggest that the agency’s leaders share these concerns.

While successive governments have struggled to contain the violence, critics contend that the current coalition under Netanyahu’s leadership has further eroded trust. In parliament, a lawmaker from Ben-Gvir’s party livestreamed himself hurling slurs at Arab legislators. The police chief appointed by Netanyahu reportedly characterized killing as inherent to the “nature” and “mentality” of Arabs. Critics view the inclusion of the deeply mistrusted Shin Bet as another indication of the government’s lack of sensitivity.

Activists emphasize that the crime is rooted in deeper underlying issues that have plagued the Palestinian community for decades.

Israeli Arab citizens are descendants of Palestinians who remained within the borders of Israel after its establishment in 1948. While some members of the community have achieved high positions in government, business, and other sectors, Palestinian citizens of Israel generally face greater poverty and lower educational attainment compared to Jews. Moreover, they have long endured neglect and discrimination in areas such as policing, public services, and housing.

These structural issues contribute to the violence, according to Wisal Raed, an expert on crime in the Arab population at Sikkuy-Aufoq, an organization advocating for equality between Arabs and Jews. She highlights the historical lack of access to bank loans, which drives many individuals to seek capital from criminal syndicates, involving themselves in potentially perilous activities. Raed also points to the scarcity of space in Palestinian communities, where land is scarce, affecting not only housing but even parking availability due to planning challenges, some of which are hindered by the state. These issues exacerbate existing disputes, leading to violent feuds.

Raed asserts that unless the government addresses these fundamental areas of neglect, even the police’s actions will not adequately tackle the root problem.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about violent crime

More about violent crime

• Violent crime within Israel’s Palestinian minority reaches new heights under Netanyahu’s government
• Abraham Initiatives
• Israel’s Palestinian minority: A history of discrimination
• Itamar Ben-Gvir: From extremist to Israel’s national security minister
• Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and policies
• Challenges and discrimination faced by Israel’s Arab citizens
• Shin Bet domestic security agency in Israel
• Crime and violence in Palestinian communities in Israel