Israel: Crime wave in Arab town exposes rift between police and locals

Due to recent hike in killings of locals in the Arab towns of Northern Israel, the country has seen frequent mass protests. There have been multiple complaints of the authorities negligence and public debates about violence in Arab communities that has turned into racist generalizations.

Blame game between Israel authorities and local leaders

Three men were reportedly killed in a sudden midday shootout last week in a town in Israel. Raging mass protests have exposed the longtime mistrust and lack of communication between the marginalized community and Israeli authorities. Each side has accused the other of neglecting the problem.

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The local Arabs, suffering from great violence and widespread discrimination, said that the Israel security forces are suspiciously helpless whenever it comes to dealing with violent situations in their community. However, the blame game never seems to end, as the local police say the leaders and residents must co-operate with them to help them bring law and order in power. 

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The shootout that occurred last week in Majd al-Krum, killing two siblings, Ahmed and Khalil Manaa, and a third man, Mohammed Sabea, initiated instant debates over the scary situation in Israel. Another Manaa brother was wounded and remains in hospital, and a fifth man is said to be on the run. The police have opened an investigation but have refused to provide any details.

Aisha Manaa, who lost her two sons in the shootout said that they were beloved by the community while holding a picture of her two slain sons and speaking to local media. According to recent reports, 71 Arabs have been killed this year, marking itself as the deadliest year in at least a decade. 

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The previous month, a 21-year-old pregnant woman at a wedding in the city of Haifa was allegedly killed by a stray bullet. According to the police reports, shooting in the small town of Jaljulia left one person dead and another wounded. Local media have aired surveillance footage from other areas showing masked gunmen firing at each other with assault rifles in broad daylight.

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(with inputs from agencies)