Israel Police probing assassination of Arab city official

The director-general of the Tira Municipality, Abed al-Rahman Kashu, was killed in a shooting in the city on Monday evening amid a wave of violent crime in the Arab sector.

Israel Police said they had opened an investigation into the incident and were conducting searches for suspects.

The Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba stated on Monday evening that along with Kashu, two other individuals were brought to the hospital after the shooting in light condition.

After the incident, the commander of Israel Police’s Central District, Avi Biton, conducted a situation assessment in Tira and assigned the investigation of the incident to the Central Unit of the district.

Later in the evening, a man was killed in a violent incident in Reineh in northern Israel. According to police, the man fired at a car while driving on a motorcycle. A driver who was in the area saw the man attempting to flee the scene and rammed into him, with the man later dying due to his wounds. A handgun was found at the scene.

About an hour after the incident in Reineh, a man was injured in a violent incident in Fureidis in northern Israel, according to Magen David Adom.

152 Arabs killed in crime in Israel since beginning of year

According to the Abraham Initiatives organization, 152 Arab Israelis have been killed in incidents of crime and violence in Israel since the beginning of 2023, including 143 citizens and nine non-citizens. In the same period last year, 68 Arabs were killed in incidents of crime and violence.

Interior minister calls for Shin Bet to be involved in fight against crime

Health and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to involve the Shin Bet in the fight against crime in the Arab sector on Monday, according to Israeli media.

“The assassination of an official in the municipality and the attempt to assassinate other elected officials express extraordinary seriousness and boldness, raising a hand against elected officials and public servants is the crossing of another clear red line that requires firm action on the part of the government,” said Arbel.

The minister noted the recent murder of the assistant mayor of Fureidis and a violent incident in which the assistant mayor of the Shibli council was injured, as well as threats issued against candidates in the upcoming municipal elections in the Arab sector, stating “the elections under these circumstances cannot express the will of the voter.

“It is clear that the phenomenon of violence in the sector surrounding senior officials, candidates, and incumbents on the eve of the elections requires the immediate intervention of the prime minister and the head of the Shin Bet,” Arbel continued.

“The Israeli government cannot continue business as usual after the assassination and attempted assassination of electoral candidates, municipal officials, or elected officials. This is about the murder of symbols of government,” Arbel added.