This year has been a devastating one for Israel’s Arab community, marking the deadliest on record with a staggering 245 lives lost to violence—a grim milestone that demands our attention. But here’s where it gets even more alarming: this figure not only surpasses previous records but has more than doubled since just two years ago, leaving families shattered and communities in despair. With weeks still left in the year, the recent killing of 19-year-old Riad Salam in the Lower Galilee has pushed the death toll to an unprecedented level, raising urgent questions about safety and accountability.
Riad Salam’s tragic story is just one of many. Shot dead in the village of Deir Hanna, he was rushed to Poriya Medical Center in critical condition, where doctors were unable to save him. Salam’s death adds to a chilling statistic: 245 murders in Arab society since January, eclipsing the 244 recorded in 2023—the first year of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s tenure. The year before saw 237 victims, already considered one of the bloodiest on record. To put this in perspective, in 2018, the number was 71. By 2021, it had surged to 126, then dropped to 109 in 2022 during a special program to combat violence under then-Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev. But since Ben Gvir took office, the toll has skyrocketed, leaving many to wonder: Is enough being done to address this crisis?
Salam’s story is heart-wrenching. According to reports, he left his home after hearing gunfire, despite his father’s pleas to stay inside. He was shot and killed while trying to investigate. His grandfather mourns, “He was a good, normal kid, murdered in cold blood. We’ve lost one of the best young people.” His words echo a growing sentiment of abandonment: “I tell Ben Gvir to stop dealing with home demolitions and start dealing with crime. We have been abandoned.”
And this is the part most people miss: Salam’s tragedy is not an isolated incident. Just two days earlier, 36-year-old Imad Bakarna was shot dead inside a liquor store in Tur’an, with another man wounded. A day before that, Mohammed Agbaria, a garage owner from Musmus, was killed in Ma’ale Iron. These aren’t just numbers—they’re lives cut short, families forever changed, and communities living in fear.
The police have launched investigations, but the question remains: Are these efforts enough to stem the tide of violence? Critics argue that systemic issues, including socioeconomic disparities and alleged neglect by authorities, are fueling this crisis. Others point to the need for more targeted law enforcement and community-based solutions. What do you think? Is this a failure of policy, society, or both?
As we reflect on this tragic year, one thing is clear: the Arab community in Israel is in crisis, and urgent action is needed. But the path forward is far from straightforward. Do you agree with Salam’s grandfather that the focus should shift from home demolitions to crime? Or is there another solution entirely? Share your thoughts in the comments—this conversation is too important to ignore.
