‘Whoever appoints Ben-Gvir to keep us safe, doesn’t want to keep us safe’: Israeli Arab mayor

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.

“I have been mayor for 15 years, the Arab community has suffered from discrimination and abandonment for a long time, yet this is the worst government that has ever been.”

Al-Hay described the appointment of Jewish supremacist Ben-Gvir as National Security Minister as “a decision to leave us dealing in blood. Whoever appoints Ben-Gvir to keep us safe, doesn’t want to keep us safe. A minister who doesn’t want us in the country will protect us? A minister who hates Arabs will protect Arab children?”

The Arab community has seen a surge in requests for mental health and psychological services, including among children, and is facing a shortage of services.

Ola Fakherdeen-Abu Rish, CEO of Yanbu, an umbrella organisation for Arab community shelters, said, "The violence on the streets greatly impacts the sense of security among adults, and even more so among children. In early childhood frameworks, there aren't individuals with the appropriate professional tools."

Since the start of 2023, four children and toddlers in the Arab community have been killed in the violence.

READ MORE
Shin Bet chief to meet Arab municipal leaders over gang threats against candidates (Times of Israel)

‘A minister who hates Arabs will protect Arab children?’ (Times of Israel)

'Mom, this is war, right?': Israeli Arab children grow up in fear as violent crime runs rampant (Ynet)

RELATED STORIES
'I won't give a shekel to the Arabs': Ministers fight in cabinet (Jerusalem Post)
Public Diplomacy Minister Galit Distal Atbaryan insisted that the government "needs to address the Jewish base [of supporters]."

Israeli man indicted for hiring hitman to ‘honour kill’ lesbian sister (Jerusalem Post)
Sarit, an 18-year-old girl from the Druze town of Kisra-Sumei, was threatened for years before her murder due to her sexual orientation.

Photo: A woman weeps at the funeral for [GU1]  Abdel Rahman Kashua, the municipal director of the Arab city of Tira (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)