Arab Communities Reach 18 Days Without a Murder

Arab communities in Israel have gone 18 consecutive days without a murder, while shootings during the period caused only light or moderate injuries. Residents and police officials attributed the relative calm to a larger visible and covert police presence, special-unit pressure on organized-crime groups, and daily sulha mediation between families in blood feuds. Reconciliation committee chairman Hajj Khamis Abu Salouk said agreements ended conflicts among families in Lod, Ramle and Tira that had claimed more than 59 lives. Police said they are tracking more than 200 leading Jewish and Arab offenders and targeting crime groups’ financial infrastructure.