Police declare significant decrease in Arab Israeli crime amid major op

Police tout a decrease of 37% in shooting incidents in Arab Israeli communities so far this year, compared to the same period last year, as it ramps up activity in Arab locales under a major operation dubbed “Safe Route.”

Police say that since the operation began last year, officers have acted against 386 “targets,” major perpetrators of crime in Arab society.

Hundreds of weapons have been seized and 280 suspects have been arrested, 180 of whom have been indicted, police say.

They add that in the past 4 months, officers foiled 25 planned murders by criminal organizations and gangs. Eleven indictments charging suspects with attempted murder have been filed during the same period, police say.

The operation began as Arab communities saw a surge in violence in recent years, driven mainly, but not exclusively, by organized crime.