Man killed in car explosion near Ramle school; motive believed to be criminal dispute

A man was killed when a vehicle exploded in the central city Ramle, police say in a statement.

The motive behind the apparent bombing was believed to be a criminal dispute, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

The car exploded close to a school, the outlet reports. Reports say the victim was a member of an Arab family known to the police.

The Abraham Initiatives, which has worked extensively on relations between the Israel Police and Arab Israelis, has blamed the sharp uptick in homicides in 2023 and 2024 on far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has been convicted of incitement to racism and supporting a terror organization over anti-Arab placards, and whose ministry is responsible for policing.

Many Arab Israeli community leaders say police have failed to crack down on powerful criminal organizations and largely ignore the violence, which includes family feuds, mafia turf wars and violence against women.

The communities have also suffered from years of neglect by state authorities.