The Israel Police today (Wednesday) arrested two Arab residents of Lod on suspicion of having committed two serious murders in the city in recent months, which left terror among Arab society.
Initially, the two were arrested as part of the investigation of the shooting incident in which a resident of the city of Ala al Sokh was murdered about two weeks ago. During the investigation of the two men in their 30s, it was suspected that they were behind the murder of Lod resident Rabab Abu Siam last July, a murder that became a symbol of the fight against violence and crime in Lod.
Abu Siam, a single mother, divorced about 30 years old who raised 3 daughters, was shot to death in the yard of her house with her baby daughter sitting on her lap. Residents of the city who knew her said that Abu Siam had previously complained about threats to her life from her ex-husband, and spent part of the time in a shelter for women who had experienced violence and threats. The divorced man, who was arrested on suspicion of ordering the murder only a week later upon his return from abroad, has meanwhile been released from custody and is currently fighting a legal battle to get custody of the girls.
The failure to find the killers many months after the murder instilled a feeling of helplessness among many Arab citizens who experienced shooting incidents in their cities. Now the investigation raises suspicions that those murderers who have been walking free since then, have committed another murder.
About a month ago, Minister of Internal Security Amr Bar-Lev even met with Abu Siam’s mother and sister. At the end of the meeting, Bar-Lev said that “It was a sad and painful meeting with two brave and impressive women. It is impossible not to admire their human strength. Rabab’s mother, Amina, was left to raise Rabab’s three daughters – her granddaughters – who were witnesses to their mother’s murder. She is now struggling to allow her granddaughters to return to a normal life, as much as possible, and told me about her feelings and concerns. I am committed to the fight against violence against women, which is at the center of my priorities, and since I assumed the position of Minister of Internal Security, I have promoted quite a few laws, initiatives and projects in order to To protect threatened women. This is such an important struggle, which is accompanied by quite a few moments of sorrow and frustration, but nothing will loosen our hands.”
Since the beginning of 2022, 92 people have been murdered in Arab society under criminal circumstances, according to the Abraham Initiatives Association. It also shows that only 23% of the murders in the Gaza Strip are solved and the investigation is completed, so that most of the murderers walk around freely.