Arab Israelis face dual threat of war and rising violent crime

During recent Iranian ballistic missile strikes on Israel, Arab citizens—approximately 21% of the population—faced compounded vulnerability due to severe shortages of bomb shelters; a Sikkuy-Aufoq and Injaz report found only 37 of 12,000 public shelters in Arab towns, with 41% of Arab Israelis lacking home protection compared to 11% of Jewish Israelis. The disparity reflects years of government neglect in planning and construction permits for Arab communities, while simultaneously organized crime and homicides in Arab towns have surged, with 78 Arab Israelis murdered since January through March 2024 versus 60 in the same period last year.