The persistent and escalating rate of crime and violence remains a top-most concern for Arab society in Israel. While homicides dropped sharply following the October events, the number of murder victims in Arab society in the first half of 2024 has already exceeded 100—the same as in the corresponding period of 2023 and more than double compared to 2022. There is a concern that by the end of 2024, the number of murder victims could match the record level of 244 deaths seen in 2023.
With limited government action or resources devoted to preventing crime in Arab society today, civil sector leaders and philanthropists are working together to identify where they can be most impactful. A funding collaborative led by Yad Hanadiv, SVF, NIF, and Mubadarat is engaging in in-depth learning to promote greater coordination and shared knowledge in the field , with the goal of building capacities and developing impactful interventions.
Crime is a cross-cutting issue, affecting the social, economic, and communal fabric in Arab communities across the country. According to a recent survey of the Arab public, most Arab citizens (74%) report a low level of personal security, feeling increasingly unsafe in their own neighborhoods.
Over the last year, the government’s inaction on existing plans and suspension of programs to prevent crime is increasingly perceived by Arab society as a deliberate policy by far-right ministers, deteriorating trust and increasing frustrations in state-minority relations. These include suspension of the “Safe Path” emergency plan, active until late 2023, the closure of the National Emergency Information Center in Kafr Qasim during the war, and cutting and freeze of funding for development and crime prevention plans (GRs 549 and 550) in Arab society.
The Abraham Initiatives, together with the Center for Citizen Empowerment, monitor the implementation of the Government Resolution 549, a NIS 2.5 billion budget plan adopted in 2023 to address crime and violence in Arab society. According to the midterm report, while some progress has been made, many objectives remain unmet. Key obstacles include difficulties in recruiting essential staff like social workers and police officers, with numerous positions unfilled. Additionally, insufficient cooperation between government ministries and Arab local authorities, and at times the inadequate functioning of these local authorities, further hinder progress. Despite the legal obligation to implement previous resolutions, policy changes and shifting priorities impact execution. The state of emergency following the October 7 attacks and subsequent war has exacerbated the resource scarcity.
Rising crime rates in Arab society are widely recognized as a result of multiple social and economic factors: inadequate law enforcement, growth of crime organizations, lack of access to credit, high poverty rates, high rates of at-risk youth, few community services, and more. While personal security and law enforcement are widely seen as government responsibilities, most programs developed to-date emphasize a multi-systemic approach involving state and civil society. Over the last year, a funding collaborative has emerged seeking to understand and coordinate non-governmental efforts that can be impactful in this challenging time.
Yad Hanadiv, SVF, NIF, and Mubadarat make up a steering committee of philanthropic organizations seeking to promote coordination, shared vision, and knowledge needed to implement effective interventions as a field. The urgency of the situation drove stakeholders to seek action and mobilization of support from within and outside of Arab society. To address this, two initial steps were taken: appointing Adv. Rawiya Khandaklu as a special crime project coordinator within the National Committee of Mayors, and forming a research team with Tomer Lotan, former Director General of the Ministry of Public Security, Youval Porat and Ameer Khalaila, to submit recommendations during the first planning stage.Over the past few months, representatives from foundations, civil society organizations, local and national government offices have participated in joint learning sessions led by the research team. In September, the coalition plans to send a delegation of these participants to the US to study Community Violence Intervention (CVI) strategies from leaders in the field. This exchange promises to enrich ongoing learning efforts and foster new partnerships aimed at addressing community violence more effectively.
The Study Delegation will be visiting Boston and Chicago during September 16 th -25 th 2024.
The first session focused on understanding economic factors that drive the gray market in Arab society. Homicides and gun violence in Arab society are usually linked to organized crime activities, including black-market loans. Arab citizens of Israel face many obstacles in accessing formal credit and loans. Economic hardships exacerbated in part by war, and unemployment drive more citizens to the black market, where violence often enforces loan repayments and contributes to intra-community disputes turning fatal. Government perspectives were shared by Yoav Soffer from the Bank of Israel on financial inclusion, Adv. Shlomi Astrogo from the Tax Authority addressing crime, Adv. Alaa Ayoub from the Ministry of Justice on legal tools, and Vered Yefet from the Bank of Israel discussing financial literacy. From civil society, Ofer Dagan, Sikkuy-Aufoq, and Hassan Khaled from Ogen provided insights into mortgage and credit issues within Arab society.
The session in Shefa-Amr tackled issues affecting Arab youth, examining the intersection of crime and their daily realities, and exploring targeted interventions to guide young people away from criminal pathways. Emphasis was placed on NEETs—youth not in education, employment, or training—who often turn to crime due to a lack of purpose and belonging. One of the approaches presented at the session was the community court model, an alternative to the criminal justice system operating in Israel for about eight years. The model aims to systematically address crime by fostering collaboration between courts, law enforcement, social welfare, and community authorities, aiming to reduce recidivism, offer alternatives to incarceration, and develop holistic solutions to underlying societal issues contributing to crime.
Various organizations shared their efforts to support at-risk youth. ELEM/Youth in Distress, for instance, seeks out young people in schools, streets, and parking lots, despite challenges like limited information and coordination. Walid, from Tur’an, recounted his journey from drugs and delinquency to community social work at ELEM. Bassem Abu Hija, director of a school for at-risk youth in Tamra, highlighted unique educational programs and employer partnerships. Hanan Shehadeh discussed the Middad project, a multi-sector initiative addressing identity, skills, and social entrepreneurship in 16 localities. These programs often face long waiting lists and a shortage of therapeutic personnel in Arab society.
A recent learning day included a visit to the unrecognized village of Abu Tlul, where the school principal, Khatem Abu Queder, recounted the challenges faced by his school, including incidents of violence he himself has experienced. In Bedouin society, youth pose a significant challenge. Khair Elbaz, chairman of AJEEK’s executive committee, highlighted that rapid societal shifts from agrarian to Western lifestyles and the breakdown of tribal structures have left young people feeling disconnected, often leading them to destructive behaviors like drug abuse and crime.
Att. Erez Padan, Southern District, discussed a comprehensive initiative aimed at stemming these issues through integrated enforcement, treatment, and prevention strategies. Implemented as a community model by the Community Security Authority in collaboration with local authorities, police, education, welfare, and the Ministry of Justice, the project currently operates in Rahat and several other locales.
The final panel focused on rehabilitation, an area facing a severe shortage of Arabic-speaking professionals such as probation officers, social workers, and rehabilitation counselors. Representatives from the Prisoner Rehabilitation Authority, the Comeback Association, and the Public Defender’s Office addressed these challenges.
As the initiative progresses, the collaborative aims to identify models of engagement, and advance implementation. Possible areas of activity include financial generators, preventive and rehabilitative programs, connecting technological innovation with activism and social entrepreneurship, policing and law enforcement. The coalition underscores collaboration, data-driven approaches, and continuous evaluation to ensure interventions are evidence-based and effectively meet community needs.
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