The Palestinian citizens of Israel have long lived in a tinderbox. The large non-Jewish national minority of 21% of the population of Israel proper has been constantly fighting for and failing to win equality in the self-proclaimed Jewish state.

Various factors make peaceful coexistence within Israel so fragile. The overriding Palestinian-Israeli national struggle in the West Bank and Gaza, the unique situation of Jerusalem and its holy sites, especially beleaguered Al-Aqsa Mosque, lack of budgets for Arab towns and the increase in criminality and deadly violence in Arab communities arguably due in large part to police apathy have all contributed to this situation, which deteriorated further when the Israeli Knesset passed the Jewish nationality law further legitimizing discrimination based on religion and national origin.

Political leaders among this population are not empowered to resolve these problems. A schism was created in the last round of elections in which a moderate Islamic coalition made dear compromises to participate in the Israeli political game and address these deep problems by prioritizing the worsening violence in Israel's Arab communities. In 2020 alone, over 200 Palestinian citizens of Israel were killed by fellow Arabs. Few perpetrators have been brought to justice under the right-wing Israeli minister of public security.

When the Gaza-Israeli violence erupted over Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem on May 10, this frustration spread to shake up the 73 years of relative peace between Arabs and Jews inside the state of Israel.