Jalal Bana

Jalal Bana is a media adviser and journalist.

No such thing as 'death from a stray bullet'

The State of Israel committed a great injustice by distinguishing between blood; between a murder motivated by hatred of Jews, and a murder that is motivated by "regular" hatred.

On Monday night, something common and insignificant occurred. A 30-year-old teacher from Ramla, Sharifa Abu Muammar, was murdered while making preparations for the start of the new school year. Okay, she is a woman, it's not supposed to hurt so much, and if she's an Arab it's much less painful even, and as a resident of a mixed city – perhaps it doesn't hurt at all, particularly if her death was caused by a "stray bullet."

No, this is not how I actually feel. Not by any means. But this is the impression one might have in the wake of this despicable murder, and the many that came before it, due to the inaction and attentiveness from just about everyone who should and is required to do something and take action against this terror – yes, terror – menacing Arab society.

According to figures provided by the Abraham Initiatives, a non-profit organization based in Lod, New York City and London, of the 56 murder cases in the Arab sector since the beginning of this year, 43 were caused by a "hot weapon," in other words an illegal weapon that passed from dealer to potential killer, until it reaches the one murderer who pulls the trigger, ending the life of a teacher in Israel.

The State of Israel committed a great injustice by distinguishing between blood; between a murder motivated by hatred of Jews, and a murder that is motivated by "regular" hatred. This injustice is in determining a hierarchy between death and death, atrocity and atrocity, pain and pain. This distinction has dictated different punishments and different media attention. In one case we demand an immediate, swift, decisive, deterring response – in the form of demolishing houses or punishing the murderer's relatives. In the other case, which is alarmingly and disturbingly widespread, the murderer can receive support and help from his surroundings, tamper with or get rid of evidence, and if put behind bars, even continue running his business from prison.

As long as the approach to hot weapons doesn't change, the situation in Arab society will continue getting worse, and by the end of the year, we will reach over 90 murder victims. The government and security agencies must define the illegal firearm problem as a threat to the State of Israel, otherwise nothing will change. There is no such thing as "death from a stray bullet." All murder is appalling, all murder destroys families. The State of Israel could, if it only wanted to, seize any weapon in any part of the country, just as it can reach any tunnel or any weapon manufacturing factory in the Palestinian Authority.

As an Arab citizen of Israel who reads about another murder almost on a daily basis, I am afraid of the next "stray bullet." I don't know if any of my neighbors or acquaintances has an illegal firearm; perhaps some of them do because they are scared. We are in an emergency situation, and the ends justify the means. If the solution calls for the Shin Bet security agency to enter the Arab towns and communities – even though it's already there, but only to foil attacks against Jews – then yes, I am ready to accept this solution as well.

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