Arab Israelis go on strike to protest deadly crime wave

Arab citizens of Israel are observing a general strike and holding protests over a wave of deadly violence within the minority community.

Local and national Arab leaders called for today’s strike and newly elected Arab members of Knesset planned to skip the swearing-in this afternoon out of solidarity.

Police say there have been more than 70 killings this year, nearly as many as in all of 2018. Earlier this week, two brothers were killed and a third was wounded in a brawl involving guns and knives in the town of Majd al-Krum.

Arab leaders say Israeli authorities haven’t done enough to stem the violence. The police say they have confiscated 4,000 weapons and arrested some 2,800 people this year alone, and that community leaders need to do more.

— AP