Accusations of 'Two-Tier Policing' as Crime Surges in Palestinian Towns in Israel

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has declared an all-out war against a wave of youth violence, following the killing of 21-year-old former Israeli soldier Yemanu Binyamin Zalka last week. 'We will restore security on the streets and peace of mind for parents. Anyone who harms Israeli civilians will face the strong hand of the Israel Police and pay a heavy price,' Ben-Gvir said.

However, critics point to a stark contrast between this response and his attitude toward the ongoing epidemic of violence in Palestinian towns and villages in Israel, which has claimed nearly 100 lives and, according to the Israeli Finance Ministry, causes damages of up to $6.7 billion annually.

Accusations of a 'two-tier' policing system disadvantaging Arabs have persisted for decades. But the situation has worsened under the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (from late 2022) and Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician in charge of the police.

Statistics since Ben-Gvir took office show the murder rate in the Palestinian community rose from 4.9 per 100,000 people in 2020 to 11 per 100,000, comparable to rates in Sudan and Iraq. In contrast, the rate in Jewish areas is only about 0.6 per 100,000.

Parliamentarian Aida Touma-Suleiman, a Palestinian member of the Hadash party, argues the government does not care if Palestinians kill each other, and the police force is hostile and does not provide services to Arab neighborhoods. There are about 10 police stations in predominantly Palestinian areas, compared to standards in Jewish areas.

In December last year, the government cut $68.5 million from an economic development program for the Palestinian community to fund additional policing, sparking outrage. Critics say more police funding is needed but not at the expense of programs addressing root causes of crime like housing and economic development, which are already underfunded compared to Jewish areas.

Palestinians make up 21% of Israel's population, often descendants of those who did not flee after 1948. They suffer from chronic underinvestment, high unemployment—especially after Israel sealed off the West Bank after October 7, 2023. Data for 2024 shows 37.6% of Palestinian households in Israel live below the poverty line.

Local criminal gangs have evolved like mafias, operating unchecked. Professor Daniel Bar-Tal of Tel Aviv University believes the government likes this so it can blame Arab culture, while also cooperating with gangs to gather intelligence. Ben-Gvir denies racial discrimination and says he only targets those who harm Jews.

Ben-Gvir's push for a genocide campaign in Gaza and his defense of police who raped Palestinian prisoners have shocked many. Recently, facing criticism from liberals and even Israel's Supreme Court, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara called for his removal due to political interference in the police.

Political scientist Ori Goldberg concludes: 'No one cares whether Ben-Gvir is good at his job. He is there to punish Palestinians, even inside Israel. They are punished through lack of security, hostile planning, lack of healthcare. This is how Israel's racist regime has always operated.'