Crime Wave Grips Sakhnin; Arab Community Protests State Inaction

Residents and business owners in the northern Israeli city of Sakhnin are living in fear due to a protection racket that has been operating for three months. On Sunday morning, two members of the criminal gang fired shots at three businesses, including a health clinic, that had refused to pay protection money. The shooting occurred in broad daylight in a commercial center.

In response to the escalating violence and the state's perceived failure to address it, the Arab community initiated a general strike across Arab towns and villages. Thousands of businesses, schools, and local authorities participated, with tens of thousands marching from Sakhnin to a protest outside the police station in Misgav.

Member of Knesset Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra'am party, described the protest as the largest in the history of the Arab community. He strongly criticized the government and Prime Minister Netanyahu, stating, "The State of Israel has abandoned and will continue to abandon the lives of our children; as long as Minister Ben-Gvir and this government exist, their lives are in danger." Abbas held the government solely responsible for the situation, demanding its resignation and calling for a change in leadership.

Medical teams from hospitals in Nazareth and Haifa joined the protest in solidarity. The Abraham Initiatives organization also supported the strike, emphasizing that the struggle against crime and police inaction is a shared problem for all of Israeli society, not just the Arab community.