MK Ayman Odeh calls for mass civil disobedience in Arab communities in Israel

Knesset member Ayman Odeh has called for widespread civil disobedience within Arab communities in Israel, citing escalating violence and crime and the failure of state institutions to protect the community.

Speaking in an interview with Kan 11 on Wednesday evening, Odeh said he had “zero trust” in the police and urged Arab citizens to rely on themselves in confronting what he described as systemic neglect. “If our children’s lives are not normal, then the life of the entire country should not be normal,” he said.

Odeh, who heads the Joint List alliance of Hadash and Ta’al, called for a comprehensive shutdown across Arab society lasting more than one day. He said this should include Arab doctors and workers across all sectors, and appealed to trade unions, local authorities and individuals to participate.

He stressed that the demand for safety was legitimate, saying the Arab communities want to live without weapons. “Weapons are evil, whether they are directed against an Arab or a Jew,” he said, questioning whether such a demand could be considered excessive.

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In sharp criticism of the government, Odeh accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of failing to address crime in Arab communities. He said Netanyahu, who has led successive governments since 2008, had done nothing to curb violence, adding that there was “no hope” for meaningful change under the current leadership.

Odeh said responsibility for tackling illegal weapons and organised crime lies with the state, rejecting the notion that communities should be expected to police themselves. He also criticised police conduct during recent incidents in the Tarabin area, questioning whether security forces were confiscating weapons or using excessive force.

His remarks come amid rising violence in Arab towns and cities. According to local figures, 11 murders were recorded in the Arab community during the first week of 2026 alone, underscoring growing concerns over public safety and law enforcement responses.

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