Man shot dead in northern town

A man was shot dead in the northern Arab town of Kafr Qara on Tuesday, police and medics said, as the crime wave in the community continueג unabated.

Medics who arrived at the scene found Alaa Abu Atta, 38, in his car and declared him dead.

Police said the shooting was not terror-related, and have opened an investigation. The victim was known to the authorities, according to the Maariv news site.

The killings are part of a violent crime wave that has engulfed the Arab community in recent years. Authorities have blamed burgeoning organized crime and the proliferation of weaponry, while some have pointed to a failure by communities to cooperate with law enforcement to root out criminals.

Many community leaders blame the police, whom they say have failed to crack down on powerful criminal organizations and largely ignore the violence. They also point to decades of neglect and discrimination by government offices as the root cause of the problem.