The Arab community in Israel experienced its deadliest month in history this July with 28 fatalities, amid escalating violence linked to criminal gangs and family clans.
This number exceeds the previous peaks of 24 and 25 recorded in May and June, indicating an upward spiral of inter-Arab violence, which has become a significant internal security issue in Israel.
Within the first seven months of 2023, 138 Arabs were killed in Israel, over twice as many as the 64 killed during the same period in the previous year.
This is a historic high, surpassing the 2021 record of 126 violent deaths, as reported by the Abraham Initiatives organization.
Out of 33 total homicides in Israel in July, 28 victims were Arabs, making up 85% of total deaths in a community that constitutes only 21% of the Israeli population.
The most recent victims included 39-year-old Abed Hasuna from Lod and Assad Abu-Heikel Agbarya from Um al Fahm.
Authorities attribute the escalation to a significant portion of police resources being redirected towards protests against judicial reform.
However, equality and integration activists place the blame on years of perceived neglect and lack of concern for the community’s circumstances.
The majority of this criminal activity is concentrated in the north, in the so-called “Arab Triangle”, where protest movement has been minimal with no significant disruptions or demonstrations in the past seven months.
Police have only solved 11% of these murder cases, compared to a 60% resolution rate among the Jewish majority, according to Haaretz newspaper.
Abraham Initiatives states that around 75% of the murders in the Arab community arise from organized crime, with the rest attributed to blood feuds, femicides involving family members, and other criminal activities.
Israeli authorities have yet to halt the bloodshed despite pledging more resources, including additional police and funds to address social issues within the Arab sector.
Many community leaders accuse the police of failing to combat powerful criminal organizations and largely ignoring the violence.
They point to years of alleged neglect, abandonment, and discrimination by government offices as the main cause of the problem.
Despite forming an inter-ministerial committee in June to combat violence in the Arab sector, tangible results have yet to be seen, and the appointment of Itamar Ben Gvir, known for his anti-Arab rhetoric, as head of the Ministry of National Security, is viewed as a major obstacle.
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