According to a report by Al Jazeera on April 23, 2026, Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “deliberately abandoning” Palestinian citizens of Israel amid rising violence.
In a post on X, he wrote: “Over 700 murders in three years leave no room for doubt: the criminal minister appointed by Netanyahu is deliberately abandoning the lives of Arab citizens”.
Golan also alleged that Netanyahu’s leadership decisions have weakened internal security. He stated: “Netanyahu handed over all of our internal security to a convicted arsonist just to survive politically, and this failed government has turned criminal organisations into the landlords of the territory,” linking the surge in crime to political mismanagement.
Palestinian citizens of Israel have long faced both discrimination and escalating violence. In 2025, 300 people were killed in Israel, with 252 of the victims being Palestinian citizens, according to reported figures. Rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over the disproportionate impact of violent crime on Arab communities and what they describe as inadequate state protection.
Israel’s census recorded around 1.9 million Palestinians with Israeli citizenship in 2019. Most are descendants of Palestinians who remained in the territory after the state of Israel was established in 1948. In that period, an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled, while thousands more were killed by Zionist militias during the events leading to Israel’s creation.
Golan, who leads the left-wing Democrats party, has been active in anti-government protests in Tel Aviv. He and other demonstrators have called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 events, as political tensions continue to grow over governance, security, and minority rights in Israel.