Arab Israeli Schools Reopen Amidst Rising Crime and Trauma
Hundreds of thousands of Arab Israeli students and staff are returning to school following a year marked by pervasive crime and violence, according to the "Elaaf" Center for the Advancement of Security in the Arab Community. Many students are returning after experiencing the loss of a loved one, injury, witnessing severe incidents, or living under threat. The center warns that the crime wave is impacting school attendance, concentration, emotional and social functioning, academic achievement, and feelings of safety, potentially leading to increased dropout rates and eroding trust in educational institutions.
Data from "Elaaf" indicates a rise in homicides within the Arab community, with 147 individuals killed in the first half of 2026, compared to 131 in the same period last year. Nine of those murdered were minors. The center's CEO, Adv. Rawia Handaklo, stated that expecting students to return to normalcy after experiencing trauma like witnessing a murder or living under threat is unrealistic. She also criticized the lack of a systematic plan to address the issue, citing undefined target populations, insufficient budgets, and a lack of monitoring.
"Elaaf" proposes a tiered approach to support affected individuals, categorizing them into circles of impact: those directly harmed or under threat, those who lost family or close friends, and those exposed to incidents and their consequences. The center is urging the Ministry of Education to recognize education staff as a vulnerable population needing support, develop school and community-based interventions, and allocate specific budgets and professional development for educators.
Handaklo emphasized that while the Ministry of Education isn't responsible for dismantling crime organizations, it is accountable for ensuring that criminal violence doesn't undermine students' right to education and their future. The report highlights the absence of a centralized government database tracking the extent of harm to students and staff, which is seen as a systemic failure. "Elaaf" recommends establishing a system for mapping, identifying, and monitoring affected individuals and creating a mechanism for coordination between the Ministry of Education, local authorities, schools, and welfare and health systems.
Testimonies from educators reveal significant distress and helplessness. One case involved eight students witnessing a murder, yet the school was not included in subsequent meetings because the victim was not a student. Another teacher described a student whose family members were murdered, with no protocol in place for support. The Ministry of Education responded by stating that strengthening resilience and safety in the Arab and Bedouin communities is a central goal, and they have developed a multi-year initiative called "Circles of Resilience" to address these issues, supported by dedicated resources.
