The horrific murder of Rasmia Barbur over the weekend is not the first case of femicide in Israel and hardly the first in the Arab Israeli sector. Barbur was the sixth victim of violence in Arab community this month and unfortunately, she most likely won't be the last.
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The main issue is that when a man decides to murder his wife he is exploiting the weakness of a woman who cannot defend herself. This is why we must make such tools available to every woman in distress.
While Barbur's murder is not directly connected to the surge in violence in the Arab Israeli community, it does reflect the overall atmosphere of grave violence plaguing it.
Femicide exists in Jewish society as well, but it is much more prevalent and therefore gruesome in Arab society. This is rooted in the fact that the latter is a more patriarchal society with a completely different mentality.
This mentality cannot change without investing in education. Budgets aside, the real investment should be on actual schooling, i.e. leading by example in the home. A boy who grows up in a home where his mother or sister are slapped around could grow up to be potential killer because he sees violence against women as "normal" behavior.
The murder of the pregnant 28-year-old Barbur, which her 3-year-old son witnessed, could be the last of its kind if we, as individuals, decided that violence is never acceptable. The state, for its part, must encourage women to report their experiences and alert others to their distress.
Femicide is rarely truly unexpected. There are plenty of signs that indicate a relationship is on a slippery slope that could end with disaster. The nuclear and extended family must understand the danger involved, and everything must be under the professional guidance and supervision of the authorities. Violent men must receive treatment or be behind bars.
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