Jerusalem, 15 February, 2026 (TPS-IL) — President Isaac Herzog hosted today, Sunday, at his official residence in Jerusalem families of victims of murder and other violent crime in Arab society.

The president listened to the difficult stories of the families, and emphasized that the rampant violence and organized crime are eroding the foundations of Israeli society, and that this is a national emergency and a moral stain on the face of society as a whole.

“This is a stain on the face of the State of Israel,” Herzog told them, “this is a national and security challenge that applies to all of us. A state of emergency that requires all authorities to act firmly and with top priority to eradicate this terrible phenomenon.”

“Every such loss is an entire world destroyed,” he added. “This is an unimaginable situation of 48 citizens of the State of Israel who have been murdered in Arab society since the beginning of the year. This is a stain on the face of the State of israel and a national security and social challenge of the highest order, imposed on all of us.”

Israel’s Arab communities have suffered from violent crime sprees that include many murders over the past few years. One day last week, five people were shot to death in a 12 hour period alone.

The Israeli government has been engaged in a massive law enforcement campaign over the past few years to eradicate such crime in Arab communities.

Gil Tanenbaum

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