Dear Friends and Partners in our Australian Progressive Jewish Community,
In these early months of 2026, our connection to Israel feels more vital—and perhaps more complex—than ever. As Progressive Zionists in Australia, we are bound by a vision of an Israel that is both a secure homeland for the Jewish people and a sanctuary of justice for all its citizens. Today, that vision is being tested by a profound internal crisis: the epidemic of violence within Israel’s Arab society.
The year 2025 closed as the deadliest on record, with 252 Arab citizens murdered—a staggering figure that accounts for a disproportionate record of Israel’s total homicides. As of February 2026, the crisis has escalated into what Police Commissioner Danny Levy has termed a “national state of emergency,” with 49 murders recorded in just the first six weeks of this year.
- The “No Vakum” (Vaccum) Doctrine: Lessons from the Galilee
The recent historic Sulha (reconciliation) in the Galilee between the Silvia and Raad families serves as a beacon. After 12 years of a devastating blood feud, these families chose peace. Strategic analyst Yechezkel Ravi observes this was a community-led refusal to allow a security vacuum to destroy their future. In the absence of effective state intervention, the Jahha (Mediation Committee) utilized traditional “Diyya” (restitution) to restore balance.
- The Psychology of Fear and the Leadership Deficit
Expert analysis from the “Arabistim” program on channel i24, highlights why residents often remain silent despite having security footage of crimes. Dr. Ruth Wasserman Lande*, notes that silence is often a matter of survival: “Women and girls are terrified… if they provide information, the next day they are simply not there.”
This fear is exacerbated by a profound vacuum of courageous leadership on both sides:
- State Abdication: Recent Jerusalem Post editorials argue that the current government has treated Arab-on-Arab crime with “deadly restraint.” Trust in the police has collapsed, with very low % of Arab citizens expressing confidence in law enforcement.
- Communal Accountability: There is a growing call for Arab leadership to move beyond ideological posturing. While mass protests in Sakhnin show a potential “civic awakening,” local leaders must more forcefully confront internal criminal elements and prioritize the physical safety of their own streets.
- Restoring the “Safe Path”: The Segalovitz Legacy
We must look back to 2022, when the “Safe Path” task force, led by Yoav Segalovitz, proved that progress is possible. By coordinating the Tax Authority and Police, the task force saw a significant decrease in murders and a significant disruption of the “financial oxygen” of crime families.
Today, that model has been largely dismantled. In a move widely criticized by coexistence organizations, the government recently diverted NIS 220 million originally meant for Arab economic development into the general budget for “nationalist crime”.
- An Australian Blueprint: The “John Howard” Model
To fill this vacuum, we advocate for a “Sovereignty Plan” inspired by the 1996 Australian firearm reforms:
- National Gun Buyback & Amnesty: Surrendering illegal firearms for compensation.
- Decisive Enforcement: A specialized offensive to disarm criminal syndicates, mirroring the inter-agency coordination of the Segalovitz era and providing the human, technological and financial means and any other resources required for effective law enforcement.
- Addressing National Security: Treating crime networks with the same strategic urgency as terror organizations.
- Multi-Disciplinary Task Force: Pairing policing with mental health professionals to treat the trauma (PTSD) affecting a high portion of the Arab population.
Our Zionism is rooted in the promise of “complete equality of social and political rights.” We stand with the innocent families who deserve a state where justice is not a death sentence. True leadership is not found in rhetoric, but in the courage to protect the vulnerable.
Ayal Marek
President
ARZA Australia
Refer: www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-885136
* main.knesset.gov.il/en/mk/Apps/mk/mk-print/1052
Raging Violence
National Epidemic: Father and Son Shot Dead in Umm al-Fahm (translation from Hebrew)
www.ynet.co.il/news/article/b1k00esld11e
The two were shot to death while in their car; a burnt vehicle suspected to have been used by the assassins was found near the scene of the double murder.
The background is criminal. 49 have been murdered since the beginning of the year—in just a month and a half.
Violence is only intensifying
A father and son were shot dead this morning (Monday) in Umm al-Fahm, bringing the number of murder victims in Arab society since the beginning of the year to 49—in just a month and a half.
The vehicle containing the two victims overturned several times after they were shot. A burnt vehicle, suspected to have been used by the assassins, was found near the scene of the double murder. Police stated that the background is likely criminal.
The Toll: 49 murdered in a month and a half (compared to 31 in the same period last year).
The report regarding the casualties in Umm al-Fahm was received at the MDA (Magen David Adom) Gilboa region center at 8:56 AM. MDA medics and paramedics reported two men showing no signs of life with penetrating injuries and pronounced them dead at the scene.
MDA Paramedic Suheib Mahajna related:
“When we arrived at the scene, we saw two unconscious victims with no pulse and no breath, suffering from penetrating wounds to their bodies. We performed medical checks, but to our great sorrow, we had no choice but to declare their deaths on the spot.”
In the first month and a half of this year, a record high of 49 victims has been recorded in Arab society, compared to 31 in the corresponding period last year. Out of these 49 murder cases, only four have been solved.