A document recently issued by the Knesset's Research and Information Center showed the extent of crime and violence among the youth in Arab society on the one hand, and the government's inability to deal with it on the other hand.
According to the data of the Israel Police, in 2020 and 2021, in which there was a decrease in the number of cases opened against minors who were residents of Israel compared to 2019, a significant increase of up to 30% occurred at the same time in the rate of opening cases against non-Jewish minors (the vast majority of whom are Arabs) out of all minor cases.
The same document also shows that the proportion of students in Arab education who are exposed to violence is higher than the proportion of students in Hebrew education, especially in the upper divisions.
These are difficult and sad data, which should have provoked a serious public discussion - but unfortunately passed under the radar.
The State of Israel must accept responsibility: youth in Arab society can and should be kept away from violence and crime.
The main key to solving the problem lies in increasing education budgets, but the change will not happen by itself, without investment and proactive activity.
Our association, "Yisod", operates in Arab society.
We operate educational programs in coordination and cooperation with the supervision of student rights at the Ministry of Education, whose goal is to empower the youth and provide tools to develop and sharpen their sense of belonging, freedom of expression and awareness of their basic rights.
There are other factors operating in Arab society with the aim of helping as much as they can.
However, this is a "drop in the ocean" and the state must do much more to create real change.
Fighting crime is not the role of the third sector, whose capabilities are limited and its shoulders are narrow.
This is a national mission.
Adapted budgets and educational programs are an essential and first step in this struggle.
In conversations with education teams from the sector, the strong need for a discourse on human rights emerges, along with an introduction to the law, enforcement and justice systems and the interface in the lives of the youth.
Another point that comes up is the lack of awareness.
One of the boys participating in our programs said that this is the first time that they are being talked to about the "rights" they deserve, and not just about duties.
This is the first time he feels that the state also "gives" him something, and not just demands it.
Ignoring the government is equivalent to neglect and default, the results of which are devastating.
It is not for the government, any government, to bury its head in the sand and watch from the sidelines as the Arab youth deteriorates and the crime rates in Arab society are on an alarming upward trend.
The government must determine inter-ministerial policies, areas of responsibility, delegate powers, integrate the relevant factors such as the local authorities and allocate budgets.
This will only happen when a government arrives and makes the issue a national priority.
A government that does not do so is sinning in its duty to all its citizens, and will be forced to deal with figures, division, poverty and crime many times higher.
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