President Herzog Addresses Imams Trained to Combat Violence in the Arab Sector

On July 2, 2026, President Isaac Herzog spoke at a ceremony for the first cohort of imams who completed a training program to address violence and crime in Arab society.

This initiative of the Department for Religious Communities in the Ministry of Interior and the Unit for the Advancement of Teaching Staff at the Open University provides religious leaders with practical tools to strengthen community resilience, prevention efforts, and cooperation with local authorities and law enforcement.

President Isaac Herzog:

“You are completing your training at a moment of genuine emergency. This is a national, Israeli, social, moral, security, and economic crisis. And in this state of emergency, we are called to a shared struggle, as this gathering reflects—a struggle built on shared responsibility, leadership, and practical action on the ground.

“The reality in Arab towns has become unbearable: shootings, murders, threats, extortion, and constant fear. There are 140 victims since the start of 2026. This is a terrible routine of life that we must never accept, under any circumstances. Violence is not a decree of fate. It is not a force of nature beyond our influence.

“The State of Israel has the responsibility and the duty to provide equal personal security to all its citizens, regardless of religion, nationality, or place of residence. And to anyone who deludes themselves otherwise, this week we saw this horrific crime seep into the heart of even the largest towns in Israel.

“The Shin Bet must be brought into this battle without any reservation, and appropriate legislation must be advanced quickly.“