This week, an unusual demonstration was held in front of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. It was attended by several dozen Arab women who lost their sons or spouses and other family members. No one heard or covered, this event did not break into the public consciousness. This is not surprising, because none of the ministers or Knesset members who passed by them spoke to them, strengthened them, or identified themselves enough to ensure that they dealt with the issue for which they are demonstrating. The issue of personal security.
Clearly, if we were in an election season, things would look different, or if the demonstrators were Jewish, the entire country would stand still. But when it comes to an issue that has not yet reached the heart of the consensus, and has not yet shocked or directed at Jewish society, few will be interested in it. The protest initiative of bereaved Arab women, who are carrying terrible personal and collective trauma, began in the past two years, with the increase in murders in Arab society.
Although this women's protest initiative began at a time when several Knesset elections were held, and even though we are still close to municipal elections, the initiative has not yet succeeded in putting the issue on the agenda with the intensity it deserves.
Although this is a private initiative with no means of assistance whatsoever, it can now be the hope for changing the vile situation that Arab society has reached, precisely because women lead it, especially bereaved women who have already been burned by the crime and suffer from it on a daily basis.
The initiators of the demonstration believed, perhaps logically, that if they demonstrated while the cabinet meeting was being held, they could put the issue on the agenda of state leaders and decision makers. What they didn't know was that the last thing that could interest government ministers and the prime minister in general was the issue of crime and violence in Arab society, and that's a shame.
Only in recent months have we heard endless assurances from those in charge of the government that they will work to eradicate crime. So far, nothing has changed, and the diversion of police forces to deal with the protests against the regime revolution weakens the possibility of finding solutions or preventing further bloodshed in Arab society. No wonder we've reached more than 120 victims, with almost no homicide solved.
It is Arab women who can use the momentum to lead an important and just protest in all parts of the country through demonstrations and roadblocks, and if necessary, also reach the heart of the government's members, voice their cries and cries and demand a root cause for the problem. And contrary to the way Arab public leaders handle, proper action and a right and just struggle by Arab women can also put the issue on the agenda and cause decision makers to act and give priority to the issue of crime and violence. Women – both Jewish and Arab – more than men and more than anyone else, are exposed to and touch on the subject of loss and bereavement.
They can actually contribute to preventing the continuation of the bloodshed in Arab society, which is bleeding and suffering every day, every hour and every minute from crime, and this is a good and important opportunity to strengthen them and support their struggle, so that it will bear fruit and results faster.
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