Death in the name of honor: sociocultural perspectives on honor killings among Israeli Arabs

Honor killings are a complex social phenomenon within Israel’s Arab society, reflecting tensions between patriarchal traditions and modern values of equality and human rights. This study aims to develop a predictive model for understanding attitudes toward honor killings in this population, exploring the influence of cultural, social, and demographic factors. A total of 296 Israeli Arabs participated in the study. Utilizing purposive sampling, data collection employed both online and physical channels. Regression analysis was conducted on attitudes toward honor killings, cultural identification, community coherence, and perceived anomie. The model found partial support, revealing cultural identification as a significant predictor—stronger identification correlated with more favorable attitudes. Gender, age, and education background also emerged as significant variables, with men, older individuals, and those with secondary education expressing greater support. Surprisingly, community coherence, place attachment, anomie, and subjective social mobility did not predict attitudes. This research underscores the cultural uniqueness of honor killings and advances ecological theory by integrating demographic and cultural variables. Practical implications suggest targeted interventions, emphasizing resources for male engagement, educational programs promoting gender equality, and community leader condemnation.