Traffic disruptions are expected across Israel on Sunday as members of the Arab community stage widespread protests against a surge in violent crime. Demonstrators are converging on Jerusalem via a series of slow-moving convoys, accusing authorities of failing to address the escalating crisis.
The protests come amid a particularly deadly period, with 12 people killed in the past week, bringing the total number of homicides since the beginning of the year to 39. This represents a significant increase compared to the same period last year, which saw 30 killings. In 2025, a record 252 members of the Arab community were victims of homicide.
The demonstrations are being organized by the High Follow-Up Committee for the Arab Citizens of Israel, an umbrella group representing the community. A convoy originating from the northern city of Shfaram departed at 9:00 a.m. Local time, heading south along the coast. It is scheduled to join with another convoy at the Caesarea Junction and a third from the south at the Latrun interchange, before arriving at the government quarter in Jerusalem around 1:30 p.m.
The protests reflect growing frustration and anger within the Arab community over what many perceive as a lack of effective policing and government action to curb the violence. Much of the crime is attributed to conflicts between rival criminal groups. A mass Arab-Jewish protest held in Tel Aviv earlier this month similarly demanded greater government intervention.
Some within the community have directly blamed National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, whose portfolio includes oversight of the police, for the worsening situation. Critics argue that crime rates have reached unprecedented levels under his watch.
Jamal Zahalka, head of the High Follow-Up Committee, articulated the community’s distress, stating, “We want to voice a great cry of the grave distress felt by the Arab community. People are being murdered and injured every day.” He described a situation where the community lives in fear of organized crime and accused the government of “abandonment,” alleging it has created “a state within a state.”
In Jerusalem, Zahalka and Mazen Ghnaim, the mayor of Sakhnin, plan to deliver a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlining their concerns. The timing coincides with Netanyahu’s planned departure for Washington, D.C.
The High Follow-Up Committee has warned that if government policy does not change, it will call for a three-day general strike next week, impacting essential services such as healthcare, transportation, and construction. Preparations are already underway to secure broad participation and protect the rights of striking workers.
The planned strike builds on previous demonstrations of discontent. Israeli Arabs observed a general strike in January to protest the surge in killings and what they described as police inaction. During that strike, tens of thousands protested in Sahknin, with the town’s mayor, Mazen Ghnaim, directly blaming Netanyahu for failing to provide security for all citizens.
The current wave of protests also follows a general strike in January, and activists from the Standing Together lobby group are planning further disruptions by blocking junctions across the country on Tuesday.
The personal toll of the violence is evident in the voices of those directly affected. Mohammad Nassar, whose son was one of three men killed in a recent highway shooting, expressed his despair, stating, “There is no end to this crime that is snuffing out young people who have still not seen anything in their lives.” He also criticized Ben Gvir’s silence, interpreting it as a sign of disregard for human life.
Tofik Kassum, whose relative was recently gunned down, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We don’t want to lose people, we want to live our lives without danger… We are fed up.”
Recent incidents underscore the severity of the situation. Last Thursday, three members of the same family were shot and killed in northern Israel, and hours later, two men were killed in East Jerusalem’s Shuafat refugee camp.
The escalation of violence represents a significant increase over the past decade. While killings in Arab cities and towns have been a persistent problem, 2023 saw a dramatic jump to 244 murders under Ben Gvir’s tenure, doubling the 116 recorded the previous year. Although the number dipped slightly in 2024, it has once again risen to alarming levels, surpassing the previous record of 126 murders set in 2022.
