President Herzog Declares State of Emergency Over Arab Sector Violence

As families gathered to break the Ramadan fast, a solemn and urgent message echoed from the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. Israel cannot ignore the wave of violence devastating parts of its Arab community.

At the annual Iftar dinner hosted by President Isaac Herzog, the focus this year was not only faith and fellowship, but an unprecedented surge in killings among Arab citizens of Israel. The evening became a platform for moral reflection, communal responsibility, and a call to decisive action.

President Isaac Herzog spoke with visible concern. Days earlier, he had met with Arab families who lost loved ones to murder and terror. Their stories, he said, left him shaken. “This is a stain on the State of Israel. We are in a state of emergency,” he declared.

The phrase “state of emergency” was not used lightly.

Ihab Abu Ghosh, director of the Sharia Courts, addressed the gathering with equal urgency. Referring to the rising death toll since the beginning of the year, he called for a national emergency to combat what he described as a scourge that robs law-abiding Arab citizens of their sense of security.

Abu Ghosh grounded his appeal in shared religious values. Quoting the Koran, he reminded attendees “He who takes a single life is as one who killed all, and he who saves a single life is as one who saved all.” He then cited a parallel teaching from the Talmud: “One who saves a single life is as one who saved a whole world.”

The message was clear. The sanctity of life is a core principle in both Islam and Judaism. Violence that destroys families and leaves widows and orphans stands in direct contradiction to those sacred teachings.

The statistics are painful. Many of the victims have been men, leaving behind grieving families. Women and children have also suffered. Fear has seeped into daily life in some communities, undermining stability and trust.

Rahma Mahamid, a University of Haifa researcher who studies violence in aging Arab families, particularly violence against women, added another dimension to the discussion. Raised by a widowed mother, she spoke about the transformative power of education. Knowledge, she emphasized, equips individuals especially women with the tools to build stronger, safer communities.

Education was a recurring theme throughout the evening.

Four Arab high school students addressed the audience, speaking about peace, coexistence, and their aspirations to attend university. They spoke of wanting to contribute meaningfully to Israeli society, to build careers, and to live in communities defined not by fear, but by opportunity.

Their voices represented hope amid hardship.

President Herzog called on leaders both within and outside the Arab sector to support law enforcement and confront the violence head-on. He urged decision-makers to put aside ego and division, and instead work together to protect innocent lives.

The evening also highlighted Israel’s broader vision for regional cooperation. Herzog reiterated the importance of expanding the Abraham Accords, noting that stronger ties between Israel and its neighbors serve the interests of all peoples in the region.

Among the guests were ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, along with representatives from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Chad, Nigeria, and the United Nations. Their presence underscored the growing diplomatic engagement between Israel and the wider Muslim world.

The Iftar dinner embodied both the challenges and the promise of Israeli society. It brought together Muslim, Jewish, and international leaders around a shared table during Ramadan, united by concern for human life and the future of coexistence.

Israel is a diverse democracy where different faiths and communities live side by side. Confronting internal violence is not only a matter of law enforcement it is a moral imperative rooted in shared values.

President Herzog’s call for a state of emergency reflects a commitment to ensuring that every citizen Jewish, Muslim, Christian, or Druze can live in safety and dignity.

Israel continues striving to strengthen unity at home while building bridges abroad. Share this important story and subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about Israel’s efforts to foster security, cooperation, and hope for all its citizens.