Objectives <p>Previous research has established a positive relationship between economic inequality and crime rates. However, existing literature is limited in two key aspects: (1) reliance on static socio-economic indicators, overlooking the dynamic nature of inequality, and (2) lack of clarity on whether inequality affects minority and majority groups differently. This study addresses these gaps by analyzing the relationship between economic inequality and crime among Jewish and Arab communities in Israel.&#xa0;</p> Methods <p>We use longitudinal data from 192 localities in Israel over 6 years. A random-effects regression model was applied to examine the relationship between changes in economic inequality and changes in serious violence rates. Additionally, an interaction term was included to assess whether the relationship between economic inequality and serious violence is conditioned by the ethnic composition of localities.&#xa0;</p> Results <p>We found a positive correlation between changes in economic inequality and changes in serious crime rates. However, this effect varied by ethnic composition: in Arab localities, rising inequality was linked to a substantial increase in violence rates, while in Jewish localities, it was associated with a slight decrease.</p> Conclusions <p> The findings suggest that growing economic disparities disproportionately impact minority communities, potentially exacerbating social and economic stressors that contribute to higher levels of serious crime.</p>