Arab society in Israel has reached a breaking point. For anyone who cares to understand what's going on, this is what you need to know: The nonstop crime and violence is threatening to drown my community in rivers of blood.
I’m tired of pointless conversations asking who is to blame. In my eyes, we all share the responsibility: my society, for not doing enough to stop organized crime; the social media platforms that legitimize the murders; and our government that not only fails to act but also actively harms, bringing us to this extreme moment. Everyone is to blame.
On Sunday, I arrived at the Knesset with Standing Together, in an attempt to have our cry for change heard. The number of murders is simply incomprehensible. From the beginning of the month alone, 16 families have joined the terrible circle of bereavement: 17 murders in just 11 days. I stood in the protest next to the mother of Firas Abu Faneh, who was murdered at his workplace two months ago. Firas had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A breaking point in society
Can anyone truly imagine living in this reality? How can we continue with any routine or normalcy when this is daily reality?
We must understand how we got to this point, as Arab citizens of this country. We are the first who need to ask ourselves with courage: How have we gotten to the utter degradation of our values like this? How is it that our young ones are taking up weapons to kill for hire? How have we gotten to such a twisted world of violence?
Yes, our government bears a major responsibility for all of this, but we cannot wait for it alone to act. All of us leaders in Arab society – religious leaders, mayors, members of Knesset, principals of schools, in the workplaces, and inside the homes themselves – must confront this scourge of violence every day. We must eradicate this evil and brutality that is spreading like cancer. The fear is real, but remaining apathetic is not an option as this violence will reach the homes of each and every one of us.
Alongside the internal criticism, the indictment against our government is damning. Turning a blind eye, neglect, and the inadequate police response – all of these are a moral stain in the history of the State of Israel.
We have all pleaded for years with the government authorities to collect these illegal weapons, which make their way into the hands of crime groups. We don’t want these guns. We don’t want these murders. But we have no way of standing in front of organized crime groups. It is the responsibility of the government to provide protection to its citizens.
Yet in our country, the man in charge of overseeing law enforcement revels in glee in front of each bereaved family. To him, a good Arab is a dead Arab. Sadly, many Jewish citizens share this view.
The importance of acting together
With a heavy heart, I say: Something can be done. The reality of these murders is not fate. They are the product of a deep crisis, both internal and external. We must act together.
I remember the deep commitment of MK Yoav Segalovitz, previously in charge of Lahav 433 – The National Crime Unit, who stood at the head of an intergovernmental committee to combat crime. I remember the actions of Tomer Lotan, then the director-general of the Public Security Ministry, who led change in the field. It’s possible to stop this situation, but we must want to.
Just as we protested this week, we will not stop to act or call out for change until the bloodshed ends. We will not stop until we can promise every mother that her child, stepping out of the house even for a moment, will not be another victim of a stray bullet or a targeted killing because he belongs to a certain family.
It is the responsibility of the prime minister to respond to the moment with courage and to make clear that the plague of violence affects the entire country. A comprehensive plan must begin immediately. It is better late than never. For the next girl or boy, for every parent that won’t lose their child. Enough.
The writer is a social activist and a member of the national leadership of Standing Together.