A Portrait of the "Weak State” in the Street: Station Commanders Perspectives on Policing the Arab Minority in Israel

• In Event: Contemporary Issues in Israeli Policing

Abstract

Policing in Israel displays the characteristics of policing deeply divided societies, in which state legitimacy is low and governability of non-dominant communities is weak. Israeli Arabs are overrepresented in different stages of the criminal justice process, and have less trust and support for state authorities. Thus, policing of Arab communities presents a significant challenge. Based on interviews with ten station commanders who serve the Arab community, in this qualitative study we seek to construct the ‘crime profile’ of each station and explore the commanders’ strategic and tactical approaches for addressing them. Particular themes of interest are models of ‘good policing’ and police-community relations. The findings reveal the tense and complicated relations between the Arab minority and the police. They demonstrate the complex and unique nature of police work in this setting: as the ‘weak state’ in the street, the police are required and motivated to deploy creative approaches to achieve their aims. The possibilities and impossibilities of fair and effective policing are exposed. Commanders’ portrayals illuminate the nature of the societal conflict and the role of the police in reflecting and mediating it. They are also of practical value in advancing competent policing of and for Arab citizens.

Authors

• Badi Hasisi, Hebrew University

• Yael Litmanovitz, Hebrew University