A mayoral candidate, his brother, and one other person were lightly-moderately injured in a shooting in Nazareth on Monday evening, according to Israel Police.
Police have opened an investigation into the incident. The mayoral candidate was identified as Musaab Duchan. About a month ago, shots were fired at Duchan's home. No one was injured in that incident.
The shooting comes amid a slew of shootings targeting candidates in local elections, with the government announced that the Shin Bet would be joining investigations into incidents involving candidates.
Gantz: In a proper country, the minister responsible would be fired
National Unity Party head Benny Gantz responded to the shooting, stating "Another difficult evening. Children do not feel safe walking the streets, candidates in elections are threatened, and crime is rampant everywhere. In a proper country, with a prime minister presiding over the event, the minister responsible for this failure would have already finished his post. But Netanyahu, who depends on the extremists, chooses to allow the lawlessness to continue. He's in charge."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the shooting as well, linking it to his decision to freeze funds to the Arab sector.
"The takeover by the elements of organized crime of more and more authorities in the Arab sector in order to extort the state budgets transferred to them has become a state scourge that we must eradicate in any way for the sake of all Israeli citizens. In everything that concerns the budgets that I am responsible for, I am determined to put an end to it and call on everyone to cooperate and work together to put an end to crime and protection."