Palestinian citizens of Israel find themselves caught in an unprecedented spiral of violence that claimed over 252 victims in 2025, with a murder rate 15 times higher than that in Jewish communities. This has ignited widespread protests raising fundamental questions about ways to confront the crisis and the responsibility of Israeli authorities in this escalating situation.

International statistics reveal a dramatic shift in the security reality within the Arab community in Israel. The rate of victims of violent crimes decreased from 126 Arabs per million in 1926 to 120 per million last year, while the rate among Jews dropped only from 17 to 8 per million.

This stark disparity reflects a painful reality for over three-quarters of the Arab population, who reported in a Tel Aviv University survey that they fear for their lives and the lives of their children.

It was emphasized that this alarming rise in crime rates is not random but directly linked to the current government taking office and the Minister of National Security assuming his portfolio. The number of victims more than doubled in the first year of his tenure compared to 2022, which recorded only 108 victims.

Police Complicity

It was pointed out that there is an unwritten agreement between criminal gangs and the Israeli police, where gangs refrain from entering Jewish cities in exchange for police inaction in pursuing them within Arab communities.

This accusation is supported by official Israeli reports. An Israeli television channel broadcast a report in June 2021 in which an Israeli police official revealed that most of those involved in serious crimes within the Arab community are collaborators with the Shin Bet security service and enjoy immunity.

Palestinian civil institutions indicated that Israel is the source of approximately 80% of the weapons used in these crimes, amidst the proliferation of hundreds of thousands of firearms in Arab areas.

It was also explained that the Israeli police’s success rate in solving crimes where the victims are Arab does not exceed 15%, compared to 60% for crimes where the victims are Jewish.

This stark disparity reflects a systematic policy of deliberate inaction, especially since the Israeli police have only been able to solve 38 out of more than 250 crimes that occurred last year.

These tragic conditions have driven Palestinian citizens of Israel to widespread protest movements, led by massive demonstrations in Sakhnin that reached the heart of Tel Aviv with the participation of over 100,000 protesters.

The spark was ignited by the cry of a shop owner in Sakhnin who refused to submit to gang demands for protection payments, turning his individual strike into a collective movement that spread across all Arab areas.

These demonstrations placed the issue on the table of Israeli public debate and prompted the Israeli President to make a symbolic visit to the merchant’s shop, but they did not lead to a real change in security policies.

Human Dimensions

These crimes also carry a tragic human dimension, embodied by Ashraf Safia, who lost his 17-year-old son Nabil to a stray bullet while walking in the center of Acre after an intensive school day.

Safia described the immense pain of losing his academically outstanding son, stressing that the Arab community, which comprises 98% educated individuals, intellectuals, and businesspeople, does not deserve to be left prey to gangs that constitute only 2% of the population.

The Palestinian community within Israel is proposing multiple scenarios for confrontation, ranging from intensifying internal reconciliation efforts through local committees to prevent bloodshed, to escalating pressure on Israeli authorities through a three-day general strike that would paralyze the state—given that 40% of medical staff and most bus and truck drivers and pharmacists are Arab. A follow-up committee is also considering escalatory steps that could reach a comprehensive civil disobedience campaign if the authorities do not respond to demands.

It was affirmed that Arab media has moved to a pivotal role in awareness and mobilization, going beyond reporting police statements to uncovering the organized networks and systematic policies behind the crimes.

Meanwhile, mainstream Hebrew-language Israeli media remains reserved in its coverage, confined to elite concerns about the potential for violence to reach Jewish society without addressing the roots of the problem.

There was an emphasis on the necessity of moving from a protest mentality to one of deep community organization, calling for the building of a robust system starting from the neighborhood, street, mosque, and school, while strengthening a unifying national identity. A warning was issued that failure on this path will lead to more horrific numbers in the coming years, especially since the current year has already recorded 35 victims in its first month alone.

Tel Aviv University

Tel Aviv University is Israel’s largest public research university, founded in 1956 through the merger of three existing academic institutes. Located in the Ramat Aviv district, it has grown into a globally recognized institution known for its strengths in fields like cybersecurity, neuroscience, and archaeology, housing important facilities such as the Yitzhak Rabin Center for Israel Studies. The university’s campus is also noted for its Brutalist architecture and its adjacent 30,000-year-old archaeological site, Tel Qasile.

Shin Bet

The Shin Bet, officially known as Israel Security Agency (ISA), is Israel’s internal security service, primarily responsible for counter-terrorism, counter-espionage, and protecting state secrets within Israel and the Palestinian territories. It was founded in 1949, shortly after the establishment of the State of Israel, and has played a central and often controversial role in the nation’s security landscape, operating largely under a veil of secrecy.

Sakhnin

Sakhnin is a historic city in northern Israel, known for its longstanding Arab population and as a center of Palestinian culture within the country. Its history dates back thousands of years, with archaeological evidence of ancient settlements, and it was a significant site during the Crusader period. Today, it is also recognized for its successful football team and as a symbol of political activism for Israel’s Arab citizens.

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is a major coastal city in Israel, founded in 1909 as a modern Jewish suburb of the ancient port of Jaffa. It is renowned for its UNESCO-listed Bauhaus architecture (the “White City”) from the 1930s and its vibrant, contemporary culture as the country’s economic and technological hub.

Acre

Acre (also known as Akko) is a historic port city in northern Israel, renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved Crusader and Ottoman-era fortifications, including the formidable city walls and the underground Knights’ Halls. Its history spans over 4,000 years, with it serving as a key strategic and commercial hub for various empires, most notably as the capital of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem after its capture in 1104. Today, its UNESCO-listed Old City is a living testament to these layered pasts, blending medieval architecture with a vibrant, modern Arab-Israeli community.

mosque

A mosque is a Muslim place of worship, with its name derived from the Arabic word “masjid,” meaning “a place of prostration.” The first mosque was established by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century in Medina, following his migration from Mecca. Today, mosques serve not only for daily prayers but also as community centers for education and social gatherings, with their architectural styles—like domes and minarets—varying greatly across the Islamic world.

school

A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the guidance of educators. Its history dates back to ancient civilizations, such as those in Mesopotamia and Egypt, with formalized systems developing notably in Ancient Greece. The modern concept of widespread, compulsory public schooling largely emerged during the 18th and 19th centuries.

neighborhood

A neighborhood is a localized community within a larger city or town, historically forming organically around shared resources, workplaces, or ethnic ties. Its history is often defined by waves of migration, urban planning decisions, and the evolving social and economic lives of its residents. Today, a neighborhood’s unique identity is typically shaped by its architecture, local businesses, and the cultural traditions of the people who live there.