Tens of Thousands Rallied in Tel Aviv Against Crime and Violence in Arab Society

Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to protest rising crime and violence in Arab society, amid a continuing wave of deadly shootings and murders. Organizers described the rally as one of the largest protests of its kind in recent years, calling attention to what they say is a persistent failure by the state to address the crisis.

According to figures presented at the demonstration, 27 people have been murdered in Arab communities in the past month alone, underscoring the urgency of the protest.

Zahalka Calls Protest “Historic”

Addressing the crowd, Dr. Jamal Zahalka, chairman of the Supreme Monitoring Committee of the Arab Public, described the event as “a historic evening” and vowed that the struggle would continue.

“I am thrilled by what my eyes see,” Zahalka said. “This is a tremendous demonstration of civil solidarity and partnership between citizens in a great outcry against crime and against a government that fuels it.”

Zahalka said the goal of the protest movement was clear: “A normal and ordinary life without the terror of crime and violence.”

Sharp Criticism of Government and Police

In his speech, Zahalka sharply criticized both the government and law enforcement authorities, accusing them of failing to act decisively against criminal organizations.

“The government can—but does not want to. The police can—but refrain from action,” he said, placing primary responsibility on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Zahalka claimed that crime levels declined during Netanyahu’s year out of office and surged again following his return to power.

He also alleged the existence of a tacit understanding between police and criminal groups, calling for an end to what he described as selective enforcement in Arab communities.

Police Arrest Suspect After Demonstration

Following the dispersal of the protest, police arrested a 26-year-old man from Baqa al-Gharbia on Dizengoff Street on suspicion of attempting to attack a demonstrator. According to police, the suspect threatened a protester with pepper spray, which was seized during a search. He was taken to a police station for questioning.

The rally took place just hours after another shooting incident in Lod, in which one person was killed and several others were wounded—an event organizers cited as further evidence of the deteriorating security situation.

Calls for Equality and Shared Humanity

Veteran broadcaster and activist Rivka Michaeli also addressed the crowd, delivering a speech emphasizing shared humanity and equality.

“Does an Arab not have eyes? Does an Arab not have hands, limbs, a body, senses, emotions?” she asked, echoing Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. “If you stab us—do we not bleed?”

Protest leaders said the demonstration marked only the beginning of a broader campaign aimed at forcing policy changes and compelling the government to confront criminal organizations more aggressively.

“Talking to this government is like talking to a wall,” Zahalka concluded. “Therefore, our strategy is to apply pressure and force it to do the obvious: protect citizens and prevent criminal organizations from ruling as a state within a state.”