Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar (New Hope) is promoting a bill allowing civil courts to try for criminal offenses, thus "closing in" on criminal mafias from both sides, Ynet reported Tuesday morning.
Along with Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev and Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit, Sa'ar will establish a special team to study law changes that can be made immediately to curb the rise of organized crime in the Arab sector.
"We have a problem that cannot be brushed off," Sa'ar said, speaking at the funeral of the advisor to the Education Minister Sahar Ismael who was shot to death on August 15. "This is the problem Israel is facing, and we need to provide all resources to it. For me, Sahar's legacy is combatting the violence." Sa'ar was quoted by Ynet.
The Arab sector has seen a surge in crime, including four murder cases over 48 hours this past weekend. One of the victims was 18-year-old Anas al-Wahwah, a high school graduate who finished his studies with distinction, volunteered at Magen David Adom and had no criminal affiliations.
Early Tuesday morning, an additional murder case was reported in Haifa, where 57-year-old Muhammad Faez was shot in his home in front of his wife and children, according to a Ynet report. Faez's death brings the count of Arab murders in 2021 up to 82.
“Only a part of Israel can be considered to be under a state of law and order,” the National Committee of the Heads of Arab Local Authorities said. “The other part is plagued with lawlessness."
Khaled Abu Toameh contributed to this report.