A leading expert on crime in the Arab Israeli community has called on the government to stop bloodshed as murder rates are on course to reach record levels this year.
Dr Thabet Abu Rass of the Abraham Initiatives, an NGO that tracks crime in the Israeli Arab community, issued this warning after a teenager and four men were killed in separate incidents overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Israeli police say both incidents were linked to crime, the main driver of the worrying trend, which has also been driven by domestic violence and family disputes.
Experts blame poverty, a lack of banking infrastructure and a recent trend of established criminals fleeing abroad, leaving power vacuums that exacerbate territorial disputes among second-tier crime leaders, for the rise in deadly crimes.
A police spokesman told The National that "all incidents of violence in the Arab Israeli community are at the top of our list of priorities".
"We’ve brought in the Israeli equivalent of the FBI, tactical teams and undercover teams to work across these communities," he added.
Nonetheless, the attacks this week bring the tally of violent deaths among Israeli Arabs to 111.
"These killings are unprecedented. It is bloodshed that can only be stopped by the government. We don’t care how they do it, but they must," Mr Abu Rass said.
He said the previous government had taken initial steps to resolve the issue, but added: "This one is doing nothing to protect us."
While murders in the community had been rising for a number of years, 2022 saw a 16 per cent drop under the previous government.
'Invisible' under current government
Some in the community blame the Israeli police for the rising rates this year, accusing the authorities of not caring about incidents that affect Arabs.
There are also concerns that police are underfunded.
"The police in Israel suffer from a huge problem of shortage of means, budget and personnel," Merav Lapidot, a former police commander, told The National .
Other critics blame the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the most right-wing in Israel’s history.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a deeply controversial politician with a history of anti-Arab racist remarks, is responsible for policing in Israel. In the past, he has called to deport “disloyal” Arabs and annex the occupied West Bank.
Mr Abu Rass said he believes his community is "invisible under the current government and particularly under National Security Minister Ben-Gvir".
At the beginning of June, Mr Ben-Gvir announced plans to tackle violent crime among Israeli Arabs, which included the appointment of a policy co-ordinator.
Announcing the plans, Mr Ben-Gvir said he intends “to allocate enormous resources for this purpose by bringing police officers to the area, raising police salaries and establishing the National Guard”.
However, his flagship policy of establishing a national guard has been met by fierce criticism from some within Israeli policing and security circles, who say the project would divert already stretched funds that should go to police and is tantamount to providing the minister with a personal “militia”.
Also at the beginning of June, Israeli Arabs started a general strike over a lack of police action on the matter, after five people were killed in a mass shooting.
Soon after, Mr Netanyahu said he would enlist the help of the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, to stop the crime wave.
There are also fears that Israeli police find themselves in the midst of a political storm.
Ms Lapidot recalled that Kobi Shabtai, the current police commissioner, has worked under "three governments and three ministers of national security, which is not normal in any kind of democracy".
"Many still in the police say that until Ben-Gvir came along and interfered in police work, there were real successes in reducing Arab murders," she added
"On the other hand, the increase is so rapid that you can’t just blame everything on the minister. The truth lies somewhere in between."
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Studying addiction
This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.
Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.
The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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