Man shot and killed in Abu Snan

A man aged around 20 was shot and killed in the northern village Abu Snan, Hebrew-language media reports.

Police have reportedly opened an investigation into the killing, which is suspected to have a criminal motive rather than terror.

A wave of violent crime has swept the Arab Israeli community, much of it tied to warring organized crime groups. Many Arab Israeli community leaders put the blame on the police, who they say 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.

Communities have also suffered from years of neglect by state authorities. Some 40% of Arab Israelis live below the poverty line, and their cities and towns often have crumbling infrastructure and poor public services.

The minister in charge of police, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, has a long history of incendiary comments and stances against Arab Israelis, and the community’s leaders have argued that his policies have only intensified the epidemic of violence over the last year.