Israel recorded a 14% decrease in the number of murders in the Arab sector since the beginning of the year

According to the official press service of the Israeli police, published on October 22, 2026, since the beginning of this year in the Arab sector of the country recorded a decrease in the number of murders by about 14% compared to the same period last year. This is the best performance in the last three years, which was noted at a professional meeting with the participation of the leadership and specialized police specialists, chaired by the Inspector General of the Israeli Police, Rav-Nitsav Dani Levy.

During a meeting devoted to the analysis of the crime situation, Dani Levy thanked the police for their hard work and stressed that the fight against organized crime remains one of the main national tasks. “The data is the best in three years and shows a downward trend in homicides, but for us, every murder is too many. I commend commanders and police officers who are determined to fight violent crime day and night. I have instructed them to continue to destroy criminal organizations, strike their infrastructure, sources of funding and operational capabilities, and bring criminals to justice. We will not back down and allow criminal organizations to terrorize the population. We will act with determination, everywhere and in all sectors, for the personal safety of the citizens of Israel, Levy said.

The historical context shows that in 2023 there was an unprecedented spike in violent crime in the Arab sector: 242 murders, up 124% from the year before. In 2024, the number of murders among Arab citizens was 233, and in 2025 - 249. In 2026, as of October, there was a decrease of about 14%, which is associated with an integrated approach of the police and state structures: increased operational work, the creation of specialized units, joint operations with the prosecutor's office and tax authorities, as well as the implementation of a five-year plan to improve security in the Arab sector.

Homicide disclosure in the Arab sector has traditionally remained low, with only 23 percent of crimes solved in 2023, compared to 71 percent among Jewish citizens. The authorities note that improving the effectiveness of investigations and bringing criminal clan leaders to justice is one of the priorities for the coming years.

International experience in combating organized crime confirms the effectiveness of comprehensive measures. In May 2026, Italy carried out a large-scale operation against mafia structures with the confiscation of assets worth more than 200 million euros, including arrests and tracking of cryptocurrency transactions, which became part of a strategy to undermine the financial foundations of criminal groups. In Mexico, U.S. authorities in 2026 imposed sanctions against four people and 11 companies associated with the Del Noreste cartel, affecting enterprises in the oil and construction industries, as well as the horse racing industry. El Salvador began a mass trial in April 2026 of 486 alleged MS-13 gang members accused of more than 47,000 crimes, accompanied by a significant decline in the country's homicide rate. These examples illustrate contemporary international approaches: the emphasis on asset forfeiture, infrastructure sanctions, mass arrests and the designation of criminal groups as terrorist to limit their financial and operational capabilities.

In conclusion, according to experts, the steady decline in the number of murders in the Arab sector of Israel in 2026 indicates the effectiveness of comprehensive measures implemented by the police and government agencies. It is expected that further strengthening of operational work, increasing crime detection and destruction of the financial foundations of criminal organizations will consolidate the positive trend and increase the level of security in all sectors of society. According to Newsru.co.il, such measures are in line with international practice and could become the basis for a long-term decline in violent crime in Israel and beyond.

Key indicators by year:

Year of Murder in the Arab Sector Change to the previous year

2022 108 -

2023 242 +124%

2024 233 -3.7%

2025 249 +6.9%

2026* ~96 (at the beginning of may), ~14% decrease by 2025-14% (10 months)

* Data for 2026 preliminary, for October.

Sources:

[Official police report )