Israeli authorities have been accused of deliberately allowing violent crime to escalate within Arab communities, with claims that the negligence is part of a broader policy aimed at marginalising and reducing the Arab population inside Israel. The comments of Yair Revivo, the mayor of Lod, have drawn widespread criticism after he suggested that violence among Arab citizens serves as an alternative to forced displacement.
Revivo stated that Israel is implementing an unofficial policy inspired by the “Trump Plan” to decrease the Arab population. In remarks posted on social media, he wrote, “Instead of direct expulsion, which could cause complications, let them kill each other. This way, we get rid of them without state intervention.” His comments have raised serious concerns over the state’s failure to combat rising crime rates in Arab-majority areas, a pattern that has been documented by human rights organisations and Arab community leaders.
Violent crime within Arab communities in Israel has surged at an unprecedented rate. Reports indicate that between 35 and 38 murders have occurred since the beginning of 2025, marking a significant increase compared to previous years. In Lod alone, four people were killed within two weeks, yet no suspects have been arrested, nor have any significant investigations been reported. This lack of law enforcement action has fuelled accusations that Israeli authorities are deliberately enabling the violence, while actively preventing similar crime within Jewish-majority areas.
Rights groups have pointed to systematic discrimination in policing and public safety policies, with law enforcement agencies demonstrating a stark contrast in their response to crime in Arab and Jewish communities. While crimes affecting Jewish citizens are swiftly investigated and prosecuted, violent incidents in Arab neighbourhoods often go unaddressed, fostering a climate of fear and impunity. Community leaders have repeatedly called for urgent state intervention, warning that the unchecked rise in crime is not merely a security issue but a deliberate policy of neglect and destabilisation.
The failure of Israeli authorities to protect Arab citizens from violent crime constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law. Under international legal standards, governments are obligated to ensure the safety and security of all citizens without discrimination. The intentional neglect of law enforcement responsibilities in Arab areas could amount to a violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to life and security as enshrined in international treaties ratified by Israel.
The ongoing surge in crime has led to increasing calls for an independent international investigation into state policies regarding policing in Arab communities. Human rights advocates have urged the United Nations and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings to launch an inquiry into whether Israeli authorities are complicit in fostering violence as a tool for displacement. The consistent failure to prosecute offenders and the growing number of unsolved murders raise serious legal and ethical concerns over state responsibility for the deteriorating security situation in Arab-majority areas.
Community leaders have warned that the unchecked spread of violence threatens the very fabric of Arab society in Israel. The deliberate inaction of the Israeli government has raised alarm over the potential long-term consequences, as residents face increasingly precarious living conditions. With no serious measures taken to curb the violence, concerns persist that the state’s approach to crime in Arab communities is not passive but rather part of a structured policy aimed at weakening and displacing Arab citizens.
