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Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Following the rising violence and crime in Arab society, President Isaac Herzog convened the heads of the Negev authorities for an emergency discussion.

The conference is taking place against the backdrop of the “New Order” police operation, which was born as part of the fight against violence and crime in Arab society, and it emphasizes significant enforcement and an increased police presence in Bedouin communities in the Negev.

The purpose of the conference is to jointly examine the solution to the issue of the lack of a sense of security for both Jewish and Arab residents in the Negev, and to hear the voices of elected officials in the Negev in all its forms.

“The situation in the Negev is a national emergency. It is impossible that since the beginning of January, 11 Arab citizens have been murdered in the State of Israel,” said Herzog. Stop and think about this number, 11 citizens! This is an unimaginable figure. This is a national disaster and a national challenge. The Arab citizens of Israel are entitled to live in complete security, just like their Jewish brothers and sisters. Israeli law must apply in all authorities, and it is our duty not only to establish it, but also to enforce it.”

By Pesach Benson • January 7, 2026

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Three men were shot dead while on their way to work in the northern Arab city of Shfaram early Wednesday, as Israel marked at least 11 murders in Arab society since the start of 2026 — a grim opening to the new year that has renewed concern over spiraling violent crime.

The triple killing occurred shortly after 7 a.m., when reports of gunfire reached the Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency hotline in the Carmel region. Paramedics arriving at the scene found the three victims, all in their 50s, lying in the street with gunshot wounds and no signs of life.

“We received a report of three men who were injured in a violent incident,” said MDA medic Bilal Khatib and paramedic Fadi Tantouri. “We arrived at the scene in large numbers and saw three men lying unconscious, without a pulse or breathing, with gunshot wounds to their bodies. We performed medical examinations and were forced to declare them dead on the spot.”

Police said the background to the shooting was criminal and launched a manhunt for suspects. Residents reported hearing gunshots shortly before emergency crews arrived. Authorities did not immediately release the identities of the victims.

Shfaram, a mixed Arab city in northern Israel, has been gripped for nearly three years by a violent feud between two extended families, the Su’ad and Khaldi clans. The conflict has spread beyond the city into neighboring communities and has claimed around 30 lives, according to local reports. In several cases, people with no direct connection to the feud were killed after being caught in the line of fire.

The Shfaram killings came just hours after another fatal shooting in southern Israel. Overnight, Mahmoud Jasser Abu Arar, a 20-year-old medical student, was shot dead in the Bedouin town of Arara in the negev desert. Abu Arar was a first-year medical student in Georgia and had returned to Israel only a day earlier for a vacation.

He was taken to Soroka Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, where doctors pronounced him dead. Police said the killing was suspected to be linked to a blood feud and an ongoing dispute between families in the Bedouin community. Ten people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the incident.

The four killings pushed the number of murder victims in Arab society since the start of the year to 11, echoing the deadly trend of 2025, when 255 people were murdered — the highest annual total on record.

President Isaac Herzog addressed the issue this week, calling the surge in violence a national crisis. “The issue of crime, delinquency and the loss of personal security in Arab society in Israel is a national challenge in every sense,” he said. “This reality is not a decree of fate. It is a critical national mission to strengthen enforcement, eradicate criminal organizations, and restore to citizens — in Arab society and in Israeli society as a whole — the right to live in security.”

The surge in violence is attributed to organized crime groups fighting turf battles and attempting to eliminate rivals. Arab criminal organizations have been involved in extortion, money laundering, and trafficking in weapons, drugs, and women.

Critics argue the crime wave has worsened since Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician, became National Security Minister in 2022.

Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Israeli government approved a decision that the government said, “constitutes a significant and critical step in the national plan to combat crime, violence, and illegal weapons in the Arab sector.”

The decision was made after joint headquarters work by the professional teams from the Prime Minister’s Office, Minister of Social Equality May Golan, Minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir, and in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Shin Bet.

As part of the decision, a dedicated budget allocation of a total of 220.7 million Shekels ($68 million) was approved, from Government Resolution 550, which will be directed directly to strengthening the enforcement capabilities, intelligence, and operational activities of the Shin Bet, the Israel Police, and the Shin Bet, with the aim of restoring personal security to Israeli citizens, improving their quality of life, and strengthening national security.

Jerusalem, 26 november, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Police on Wednesday carried out an enforcement operation against businesses linked to criminal organizations in the northern Arab towns of Tayibe, Tira, and Kalansuwa. The operation was part of Israel’s ongoing fight against violent and organized crime in its Arab communities and included raiding dozens of compounds and businesses and targeted financial enforcement.

“This is a large-scale economic enforcement operation aimed at combating organized crime, strengthening governance, and improving the public’s sense of security,” said the police.

The operation moved to the overt phase this morning, following a covert and prolonged preparation phase, which included gathering evidence and findings indicating suspicions of criminal and economic offenses.

Hundreds of regular police officers and police special force, together with representatives of dozens of different authorities, operated in the field, in “coordinated and synchronized enforcement, while utilizing the full extent of the authorities and capabilities,” said the police.

Jerusalem, 12 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection says it continues to strengthen local authorities’ preparedness for climate change, including Arab communities. After supporting dozens of local authorities with approximately 44 million Shekels ($13.75 million) over the past three years, the Ministry is publishing a new, dedicated call for proposals for authorities in Arab society for a total of 15 million Shekels ($4.68 million) to promote shadowing, as part of Government Resolution 550 regarding the economic plan to reduce gaps in Arab society by 2026.

The support is intended to reduce heat loads in urban areas, improve the quality of life of residents, and strengthen the climate resilience of local authorities in Israel’s Arab society communities.

Jerusalem, 27 October, 2025 (TPS-IL) — During what the police called a “proactive operation” as part of Israel’s national campaign to stamp out violent crime in Arab communities conducted in Ramla, Lod and Kafr Qassem (central Israel), items of weaponry were uncovered, including pipe bombs, pistols, grenades, ceramic vests and a large amount of ammunition. Two suspects were arrested.

Jerusalem, 14 August, 2025 (TPS-IL) — As part of the Government program to reduce socio-economic gaps in Israel’s Arab society, the ministry of Environmental Protection is publishing a new call for financial support for local authorities in Arab communities, with the aim of establishing and upgrading systems for collecting and treating animal carcasses and losses. Carcass and losses waste is meat waste generated from raising animals, from slaughtering in slaughterhouses, from butcher shops, as well as from slaughtering in home yards, which is common in Arab society, especially during the holiday and wedding seasons.

Support will be provided for:

Establishing infrastructure for collecting losses and carcasses, including concrete surfaces and designated collection containers.

Participation in financing services for the removal and transfer of carcass waste and losses to licensed treatment facilities: In the first year, the ministry’s support will be 95% participation in the cost of the service, in the second year – 85%, and in the third year – 75%.

Participation in monitoring and enforcement activities to ensure compliance with environmental standards.

Support for future planning for operating the system after the initial subsidy period.

As part of the implementation of Government Resolution 550 (Hebrew) to reduce socio-economic gaps in Arab communities, the ministry of Environmental Protection is publishing a new call for proposals to support local authorities in Arab society. The goal is to establish and upgrade systems for the collection and treatment of waste and carcasses. Carcass and animal by-product waste is meat residue generated from livestock farming, slaughterhouses, and butcher shops, as well as from home-yard slaughtering, which is common in Arab communities, especially during holidays and weddings.

The support will enable local authorities to improve organic waste management and prevent environmental and health nuisances. The call for proposals is intended to provide real support to local authorities and regional clusters interested in establishing dedicated infrastructures for the removal and treatment of animal by-product and carcass waste, which will reduce environmental nuisances and improve organic waste management.

Idit Silman, minister of Environmental Protection: “We are investing significant resources, 50 million ₪, in the treatment of organic waste in Arab communities for the benefit of the environment and the quality of life for all of us. Support for the establishment of advanced collection and treatment systems for animal by-product and carcass waste will help prevent odor and sanitation nuisances and reduce soil contamination. The authorities will be required to operate a regular removal system, meet strict environmental standards, and ensure that the waste and carcasses are not landfilled but are directed to a regulated treatment process. This is how we will provide residents with a cleaner, healthier environment”.

Rami Rosen, Director General of the ministry of Environmental Protection: “The treatment of animal by-product and carcass waste is an environmental and sanitary challenge that requires advanced solutions tailored to local needs. Through the extensive support we are providing, we can establish systems that will ensure regular removal, standardized treatment, and protection of the soil, water, and air. This will improve the quality of life in Arab communities and strengthen the environmental resilience of local authorities”.

Who is the support intended for?

Applications for grants under this call for proposals can be submitted by local authorities in Arab society with a population of more than 20,000 residents, as well as by municipal unions and clusters of local authorities. The support will help fund removal infrastructures, contracts with authorized collection contractors, and ensure proper environmental treatment of animal by-product and carcass waste, in accordance with the Ministry of Environmental Protection‘s strict environmental standards.

The support will be provided for:

1. Establishing infrastructure for the collection of animal by-product and carcass waste, including concrete pads and dedicated collection containers.
2. Participating in the funding of removal and transfer services for animal by-product and carcass waste to authorized treatment facilities: The Ministry’s support will cover 95% of the service cost in the first year, 85% in the second, and 75% in the third.
3. Participating in supervision and enforcement activities to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
4. Supporting future planning for the operation of the system after the initial subsidy period.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection is working to reduce environmental and health nuisances caused by the dumping of animal by-product and carcass waste in public spaces, as part of national efforts to improve the quality of life in Arab communities. Under this call for proposals, local authorities that receive support will be required to operate a regular removal system, comply with strict environmental quality standards, and ensure that the waste and carcasses are not landfilled but are directed to a regulated treatment process.

Jerusalem, 3 July, 2025 (TPS-IL) — A special task force of the Israel Police Central District operating to combat violent crime in Arab society arrested several suspects last week in Ramla and Lod (low income cities in central Israel with large Arab populations) after uncovering explosive devices, grenades, rifles, cartridges, additional weapons, and drugs.

The police said they carried out “increased operational enforcement” in the cities of Ramla, Lod, and the surrounding area last week, for the safety of local residents, as part of the fight against the illegal use and possession of weapons and drugs by criminal elements and others.

Meanwhile, the police conducted targeted searches during which they uncovered explosive devices, grenades, body armor, materials for making explosive devices, 16 M rifles, pistols, explosive devices, additional weapons, and drugs.