Man found stabbed to death near entrance to southern town

Ambulance service says victim sustained fatal wounds during violent incident at construction site in Arava region; watchdog says he’s the 36th Arab homicide victim in 2023

Police launched a murder investigation Sunday morning after a man was fatally stabbed in the southern Arava region.

The man was found near the entrance to the town of Sapir and pronounced dead at the scene by medical officials.

The stabbing victim was not immediately named. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said he was around 50 years old, but did not further identify him.

According to the MDA, the man was stabbed during a violent incident at a construction site in the area.

Police said officers were dispatched to gather evidence and search for suspects.

The force added that the deputy commander of the local police district was on his way to the scene.

The Abraham Initiatives, which tracks violence in the Arab community, said the man was the 36th Arab in Israel to be killed in a homicide since the start of the year.

The incident came a day after a man was shot dead in a northern Arab town as part of an apparent criminal dispute.

Arab communities have seen a rising wave of violence in recent years. Many blame 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.