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YAFA AN-NASERIYYE – A 27-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday morning while on his way to work in the northern Arab town of Yafa an-Naseriyye, near Nazareth.
The victim, identified as Nour al-Din Abdelqader, was found lying on the ground with severe injuries, the Magen David Adom emergency service reported. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Police said they have launched an investigation into the incident but did not immediately provide details on possible suspects or motives.
Rising Violence in Arab Communities
Abdelqader’s killing is the latest in a wave of violent crimes plaguing Israel’s Arab community. Since the start of 2025, at least 54 Arabs have been killed in violent incidents, according to the Abraham Initiatives, a coexistence group that tracks crime in Arab society.
The past two years have seen record-breaking homicide rates in the community, with 230 people killed in 2024 and 244 in 2023—more than double the figures from previous years.
Experts attribute this surge to the dismantling of anti-crime programs and what they describe as police neglect. Community leaders have repeatedly accused law enforcement of failing to address the escalating violence, noting that the vast majority of murder cases go unsolved.
An annual report from the Abraham Initiatives found that in 2024, law enforcement solved just under 15 percent of homicides in the Arab community.
Law Enforcement and Government Response
The spike in violence coincided with the tenure of former National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who took office in early 2023 and resigned earlier this year over disagreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government regarding the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.
During Ben Gvir’s tenure, police confirmed that the homicide rate in Arab communities more than doubled in 2023. The Abraham Initiatives linked this increase to his decision to scrap a crime-fighting plan developed by his predecessor in coordination with local Arab leaders.
In January, Netanyahu’s government appointed Tourism Minister Haim Katz to temporarily oversee the National Security Ministry, following the departure of Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party from the coalition.
Despite these changes in leadership, Arab community leaders say crime remains out of control, with organized criminal networks continuing to operate with impunity.
Calls for a comprehensive strategy to curb violence have intensified, with activists urging the government to reinstate and expand previously proposed anti-crime measures.
Community Outrage and Calls for Action
The killing of Abdelqader has further fueled public anger over the deteriorating security situation in Arab towns. Many residents argue that police would respond more aggressively if similar crime rates were occurring in Jewish communities.
“The government and law enforcement have abandoned us,” said a local activist, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns. “We need immediate action before more lives are lost.”
As investigations continue, Abdelqader’s murder serves as yet another tragic reminder of the worsening crisis gripping Arab communities across Israel.