Policing by Neglect
THE CLAIM: Police Absent During Crime Wave The Financial Times article cites residents questioning police absence amidst a surge of organized crime in Arab towns, observing a high percentage of unsolved murders. This narrative suggests an institutional failure to provide security for a segment of the population. THE EVIDENCE: Systemic Under-Policing and Land Seizure Facilitation The record
indicates a consistent pattern of deliberate under-policing in Arab communities, coupled with an over-emphasis on enforcement related to land and planning violations. In 2017, the State Comptroller's Report revealed a major deficit in police stations, officers, and resources allocated to Arab localities. For example, while Jewish communities had 1.6 police officers per 1,000 residents, Arab
communities had only 0.4 (Amnesty International, 2020). Concurrently, government data from 2018 showed that 90% of demolition orders issued were against Palestinian-owned structures, often enforced by police units that are conspicuously absent during violent crime. This duality suggests a prioritization of state control over property over citizen security in specific demographic sectors. THE
CONTRADICTIONS: The State's Capacity for Enforcement is Undeniable The argument of police incapacity or disinterest crumbles when juxtaposed with the state's demonstrably robust enforcement capabilities in other contexts. The rapid deployment and extensive use of force in response to protests or perceived security threats, particularly in Palestinian communities since the First Intifada in 1987,