Israeli Arabs Killed in Car Wash Shooting: Worst Crime Wave in Years

Jakarta –

Five Israeli Arabs were killed shot at a car wash in the north of the country by unidentified persons on Thursday. This event comes amid the worst crime wave in years to hit minorities.

The shootings bring the number of Israeli Arabs killed this year to 96.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel’s internal security agency Shin Bet will now assist the police to tackle rampant criminal activity in Israel.

Police said the shooting took place in Yafia, an Arab village west of Nazareth, and a statement said troops were searching for suspects in the area.

Speaking from the scene of the homicide, police spokesman Eli Levy told public broadcaster Kan that “one or more persons” opened fire on a group of men at a car wash.

A separate police official said the incident was most likely part of a gang war.

Maher Khaliliya, head of Yafia’s local council, called the shooting a “massacre”, accusing the police of being responsible for weak law enforcement.

He told AFP that he did not have definite information regarding the motive for the shooting. But he said his city stands with the families of the victims as one unit.

Experts say Arab gangs have amassed large quantities of illegal weapons over the past two decades and are involved in drug, arms and human trafficking, prostitution, racketeering and money laundering.

Israeli Arabs, descendants of Palestinians who lived on their land after the creation of Israel in 1948, comprise about 20 percent of the country’s population.

They have long complained of discrimination and police inaction against the violence and crime that plagues their community.

On May 30, elected officials and representatives of the Arab minority staged a protest in Jerusalem and called on the government to increase security.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu announced the decision to form a steering committee following a meeting with Arab parliamentarians to discuss “solutions to the wave of killings in Arab society”.

On Thursday, he said he was “determined to stop this string of killings” and would see that happen not only by strengthening the police but also “with the help of the Shin Bet”.

(eva/eva)