Man shot dead in south, in 16th killing in Arab community this year
Lakiya resident found with gunshot wounds at entrance to town
A man was shot to death at the entrance of the southern town of Lakiya, police said on Wednesday, amid an ongoing crime wave faced by the Arab community.
The 23-year-old resident of the Bedouin town was found lying on the ground with gunshot wounds, the Magen David Adom ambulance service said in a statement.
The medics declared the victim dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, the Abraham Initiatives watchdog reported that 16 Arabs have been killed in homicides since the start of 2023, 14 of them citizens.
Last year, 116 Arab Israelis were killed in violent incidents, 101 of them by gunfire.
Arab communities in Israel have seen a surge in violence in recent years, driven mainly, but not exclusively, by organized crime.
Arab Israelis say police have failed to crack down on powerful criminal organizations and for years largely ignored the violence, which includes family feuds, mafia turf wars, and attacks on women.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.