On final day of 2021, another Arab killing brings year’s death toll to 126

A man was shot dead in the town of Umm al-Fahm Friday, the latest addition to 2021’s record Arab death toll from violence on the final day of the year.

The man was found shot in a vehicle in the parking lot of a health clinic. Paramedics rushed to the scene but were forced to declare him dead.

He was later identified as Mustafa Jabareen, 51.

Police launched an investigation into the killing and were conducting searches in the area.

The Abraham Initiatives, which monitors and campaigns against violence in the Arab community, said that the killing brings the number of Arabs killed in Israel in 2021 as a result of violence and crime to 126, of which 62 were below the age of 30, and 16 of them were women.

Friday’s victim was the fourth suspected murder in the Arab community this week.

Arab communities have seen a surge in violence in recent years, driven mainly by organized crime.

Arab Israelis 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. The community has also suffered from decades of neglect.

Police say criminals are often shielded by communities that are reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Public Security Minister Omer Barlev have vowed to crack down on the violence.