This week, President Isaac Herzog declared that the record-high homicide rate in Israel’s Arab sector constitutes a “national emergency.” But according to Knesset member Aida Touma-Sliman, the organized crime groups behind the violence in Israel thrive because “this is a policy conducted by the government.” 

“Crime groups are their subcontractor for the destruction of our society, making us terrorized individuals looking only to live their lives quietly. When you are struggling for the basic right to live, you forget all about struggling for other political, economic and social rights,” Touma-Sliman said.

She noted that only 10 percent of the murders of Arabs are solved – down from 40 percent under past governments – and in stark contrast with the Jewish sector, in which a vast majority of cases are closed. “A very bad message is being sent by the police to the murderers and criminals: that you can do whatever you want and nobody will touch you as long as it remains among the Arabs,” she said.

Touma-Sliman said she was convinced that if National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir believed that the stashes of deadly weapons in the hands of Arab crime organizations were to be used against Jews, “he would know exactly how to smash them down. But he is not willing to do it, as long as they are only committing crimes among the Arabs. He is enjoying the scene.”

Touma-Sliman also discussed the reunion of the Joint List, the reasons behind her decision not to run in the coming election, and her deep disappointment with Israel’s opposition parties and “so-called left.” 

Opposition leaders “are not supposed to personally replace Netanyahu,” she said. “If you want to be an alternative, be courageous enough to create a different vision for how the citizens of Israel should be living and how Israel should be as a state.”

Read more:

Netanyahu Moves to Pass Off Arab Crime Task Force From PM's Office to Ben-Gvir

MK Aida Touma-Sliman: 'The Knesset Symbolizes Everything I've Fought Against. I Don't Want to Be There. I Want to Fight It'

Analysis: Israeli Arab Leaders at a Crossroads: Will Escalating Protests Fuel Right-wing Incitement?

Explained: What Part Israel's Arab Parties Can Play in Toppling Netanyahu in the 2026 Vote

Poll: Coalition Remains Stable at 51 Seats as Reunited Joint Arab List Surges to 12

This week, President Isaac Herzog declared that the record-high homicide rate in Israel&rsquo;s Arab sector constitutes a &ldquo;national emergency.&rdquo; But according to Knesset member Aida Touma-Sliman, the organized crime groups behind the violence in Israel thrive because &ldquo;this is a policy conducted by the government.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Crime groups are their subcontractor for the destruction of our society, making us terrorized individuals looking only to live their lives quietly. When you are struggling for the basic right to live, you forget all about struggling for other political, economic and social rights,&rdquo; Touma-Sliman said.
She noted that only 10 percent of the murders of Arabs are solved &ndash; down from 40 percent under past governments &ndash; and in stark contrast with the Jewish sector, in which a vast majority of cases are closed. &ldquo;A very bad message is being sent by the police to the murderers and criminals: that you can do whatever you want and nobody will touch you as long as it remains among the Arabs,&rdquo; she said.
Touma-Sliman said she was convinced that if National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir believed that the stashes of deadly weapons in the hands of Arab crime organizations were to be used against Jews, &ldquo;he would know exactly how to smash them down. But he is not willing to do it, as long as they are only committing crimes among the Arabs. He is enjoying the scene.&rdquo;
Touma-Sliman also discussed the reunion of the Joint List, the reasons behind her decision not to run in the coming election, and her deep disappointment with Israel&rsquo;s opposition parties and &ldquo;so-called left.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Opposition leaders &ldquo;are not supposed to personally replace Netanyahu,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;If you want to be an alternative, be courageous enough to create a different vision for how the citizens of Israel should be living and how Israel should be as a state.&rdquo;
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-02-05/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-moves-to-shift-arab-crime-task-force-from-pms-office-to-ben-gvir/0000019c-2d38-d37f-affc-6fb823670000">Netanyahu Moves to Pass Off Arab Crime Task Force From PM's Office to Ben-Gvir</a>
MK Aida Touma-Sliman: <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-08/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/the-knesset-embodies-all-ive-fought-against-the-system-cant-be-dismantled-from-within/0000019a-61da-d22e-a39b-6dfa38210000">'The Knesset Symbolizes Everything I've Fought Against. I Don't Want to Be There. I Want to Fight It'</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-02-03/ty-article/.premium/arab-protest-leaders-debate-escalating-actions-while-containing-far-right-backlash/0000019c-229c-d168-afdd-67de38e70000">Analysis:&nbsp;Israeli Arab Leaders at a Crossroads: Will Escalating Protests Fuel Right-wing Incitement?</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-02-01/ty-article-magazine/.premium/what-part-can-israels-arab-parties-play-in-toppling-netanyahu-in-the-2026-vote/0000019b-bcf5-decf-a99f-bffd864c0000">Explained:&nbsp;What Part Israel's Arab Parties Can Play in Toppling Netanyahu in the 2026 Vote</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-01-30/ty-article/.premium/poll-coalition-remains-stable-at-51-seats-as-reunited-joint-list-surges-to-12/0000019c-0dfe-d2fd-a9de-cdfea4790000">Poll: Coalition Remains Stable at 51 Seats as Reunited Joint Arab List Surges to 12</a>

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Your audio guide to Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

Haaretz Podcast

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer. 

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.