A bodyguard of Suhil Melcham, the Mayor of the Arab Regional Council of Jadeidi-Makr, was shot on Tuesday evening just outside the Mayor’s home. The guard is in serious condition and was treated at the scene by Magen David Adom ambulance teams.

The guard is 28-years-old and was transported to the Galil Medical Center in Nahariya after he received initial treatment at the scene. Police dispatched a large force of officers to the area and are searching for the shooter.

Police have opened an investigation into the shooting and said in an official statement: “Officers are currently searching for the shooter while our detectives are simultaneously gathering evidence at the scene.”

This is not the first time that the Mayr has been threatened. Two weeks ago, anonymous assailants came to Melcham’s home, fired on the building and lit his car on fire. Police arrested one person in that incident, and since then, the Mayor has hired private security guards to stay with him at all times.

According to local residents, the Mayor was hosting people for a work meeting at his house when the shooting took place. “They are shooting at the house of our Mayor. There are no words anymore. We are fed up with the plague of shootings and rampant crime that is afflicting the Arab Israeli population. All of the things that the police are trying are failing. Our lives are in danger and the criminals are continuing to murder people while the police stand by and watch like we are actors in some sort of movie.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)