Kasem Abu al-Hija’s grief following the loss of his loved ones sheds light on the neglect faced by Arab communities in Israel regarding public safety and government resources.**
Grief and Anger: A Father's Tragedy Highlights Inequities in Israeli Society**
Grief and Anger: A Father's Tragedy Highlights Inequities in Israeli Society**
The missile strike that killed a father’s family in an Arab-majority town reveals stark disparities in government support and community safety in Israel.**
In a heart-wrenching account of loss and anger, Kasem Abu al-Hija, 67, finds himself mourning the deaths of his daughter, two granddaughters, and their aunt after a missile strike shattered their home in Tamra, an Arab-majority town in northern Israel.
“We didn’t just lose family; we lost our sense of safety,” he declares. The tragic event occurred when an Iranian missile directly hit their residence, reducing it to rubble and tossing debris across the street. The remains of their lives—books, toys, personal belongings—are now testaments to the chaos that ensued when rescuers arrived only to find their family trapped beneath concrete.
Witnesses recounted the horror as they viewed a video circulating online, depicting Hebrew voices tauntingly singing celebratory chants in response to the attack, with one voice ominously exclaiming, “On the village, on the village.” In response, Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the video, describing it as “appalling and disgraceful.” Yet, for Kasem and the residents of Tamra, their outrage runs beyond just this offensive display; it reflects a deeper societal divide.
Tamra's residents, numbering approximately 38,000, face a stark lack of public bomb shelters compared to the nearby Jewish-majority town of Karmiel, which boasts 126 shelters for its 55,000 residents. This disparity in emergency preparedness has been a well-documented issue, with non-Jewish communities frequently receiving inadequate resources—nearly half of Arab towns lack proper public shelter facilities, according to a 2018 Israeli State Comptroller report.
"The government has historically allocated fewer resources to Arab municipalities," states Lital Piller of the Israel Democracy Institute. While all citizens of Israel are legally granted equal rights, Arab communities routinely experience systemic discrimination, notably in areas such as crisis readiness and infrastructure development.
In Tamra, emergency preparedness appears to falter. A mere 40% of the town's homes feature reinforced safe rooms, requiring many families to seek shelter with neighbors—a daunting task when alerts strike with little warning time. As sirens blare and alerts engage, residents experience visceral panic, illustrating the long-standing shortcomings in their community’s safety infrastructure.
This issue extends beyond Tamra, affecting Arab Bedouin communities in the Negev, which lack official recognition and therefore, adequate shelter. The stark need for shelters isn't only the concern of Arab citizens; poorer Jewish neighborhoods face similar challenges, raising broader questions about equity in public safety.
"Arab society feels neglected and left behind," asserts Ilan Amit from the Arab-Jewish Center for Empowerment. Despite previous government initiatives aimed at reducing the socioeconomic gaps between communities, recent policy shifts have hampered progress, particularly during ongoing conflicts, exacerbating feelings of despair and neglect among Arab citizens.
As community members gather to pay respects and support each other after the tragedy, a sense of unity surfaces amid devastation. "The bombs do not choose between Arabs or Jews," Kasem reflects, calling for peace. “We must end this war. We must end it now.” His poignant plea for compassion resonates deeply, highlighting the shared humanity at the heart of ongoing conflict.
“We didn’t just lose family; we lost our sense of safety,” he declares. The tragic event occurred when an Iranian missile directly hit their residence, reducing it to rubble and tossing debris across the street. The remains of their lives—books, toys, personal belongings—are now testaments to the chaos that ensued when rescuers arrived only to find their family trapped beneath concrete.
Witnesses recounted the horror as they viewed a video circulating online, depicting Hebrew voices tauntingly singing celebratory chants in response to the attack, with one voice ominously exclaiming, “On the village, on the village.” In response, Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the video, describing it as “appalling and disgraceful.” Yet, for Kasem and the residents of Tamra, their outrage runs beyond just this offensive display; it reflects a deeper societal divide.
Tamra's residents, numbering approximately 38,000, face a stark lack of public bomb shelters compared to the nearby Jewish-majority town of Karmiel, which boasts 126 shelters for its 55,000 residents. This disparity in emergency preparedness has been a well-documented issue, with non-Jewish communities frequently receiving inadequate resources—nearly half of Arab towns lack proper public shelter facilities, according to a 2018 Israeli State Comptroller report.
"The government has historically allocated fewer resources to Arab municipalities," states Lital Piller of the Israel Democracy Institute. While all citizens of Israel are legally granted equal rights, Arab communities routinely experience systemic discrimination, notably in areas such as crisis readiness and infrastructure development.
In Tamra, emergency preparedness appears to falter. A mere 40% of the town's homes feature reinforced safe rooms, requiring many families to seek shelter with neighbors—a daunting task when alerts strike with little warning time. As sirens blare and alerts engage, residents experience visceral panic, illustrating the long-standing shortcomings in their community’s safety infrastructure.
This issue extends beyond Tamra, affecting Arab Bedouin communities in the Negev, which lack official recognition and therefore, adequate shelter. The stark need for shelters isn't only the concern of Arab citizens; poorer Jewish neighborhoods face similar challenges, raising broader questions about equity in public safety.
"Arab society feels neglected and left behind," asserts Ilan Amit from the Arab-Jewish Center for Empowerment. Despite previous government initiatives aimed at reducing the socioeconomic gaps between communities, recent policy shifts have hampered progress, particularly during ongoing conflicts, exacerbating feelings of despair and neglect among Arab citizens.
As community members gather to pay respects and support each other after the tragedy, a sense of unity surfaces amid devastation. "The bombs do not choose between Arabs or Jews," Kasem reflects, calling for peace. “We must end this war. We must end it now.” His poignant plea for compassion resonates deeply, highlighting the shared humanity at the heart of ongoing conflict.
