Community violence in Palestinian-Arab society in Israel: Challenges for Arab social service directors

Abstract The past three decades have seen growing research on community violence (CV). In Israel, limited literature on Palestinian Arab society has found widespread exposure to CV across all ages. The recent surge of violence in Palestinian Arab communities in Israel underscores the need for further research on frontline social workers in social service departments (SSDs) who cope with escalating CV on a daily basis. Findings of this qualitative phenomenological study that included interviews with twelve SSD directors in Palestinian Arab communities in northern and central Israel revealed four interrelated themes that reflect the realities faced by directors of SSDs in their society amidst escalating CV: (1) Intensifying and normalized CV in everyday life; (2) Overlap of personal, parental and professional coping with CV; (3) Gaps between policy and practice in responding to CV; and (4) The challenges of remaining motivated at work. The findings indicate that directors of SSDs in violence-affected communities require stronger professional and institutional support. Social work policies, training, and practices need to be adapted to local realities, with clear guidelines and adequate resources, alongside enhanced collaboration with community and national actors to protect workers and improve community safety.