Nidal Agbarieh, an Arab journalist who ran the Baladna news site, was shot to death, in his car in Umm al-Fahm on Sunday night. The Union of Journalists stated that it was “shaken” by the murder and expressed condolences to Agabrieh’s family. “Israel Police must act immediately to locate the murderers and bring them to justice and act more vigorously in order to eradicate the epidemic of violence in Arab society,” said the union.

Nidal Agbarieh, the journalist who was murdered in Umm al-Fahm on Sunday night, September 4, 2022 (Photo: Zo Haderech)

Hadash also responded to the murder on Sunday night, stating that “the police had known for a year that the criminal organizations had marked journalist’s house. A year ago, his house was shot up when he and his family were at home, but the police did not act to arrest the criminals.” “Nidal was murdered today due to the incompetence of Israel Police,” added Hadash. “The murder of a journalist is an attempt to silence the voice of the Arab protest against violence and crime. Israel Police must put an end to the neglect of Arab society, take the weapons off the streets and bring the vile murderers to justice.”

The Mossawa Center expressed outrage at the murder, stressing that the journalist had been shot at before “and the police were silent.” “Tonight they killed him so that every Arab journalist would know that he had better not deal with crime and corruption,” said the center. “It is unfortunate that the Arab journalists were left alone. On the one hand they suffer from the violence of the police and on the other hand from the violence of the criminal organizations.”

According to the Abraham Initiatives, a group campaigning against violence in the Arab community, at least 69 Arab Israelis have been killed so far this year in violent crimes.

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=30476