The Ministry's Community and Crime Prevention Division, or Metzila, as it is better known to the Israeli public, was established in 1996 to promote and reinforce the stance of communities against violence, by bringing about improved coordination between community organizations and including greater involvement and activism on the part of its residents.

Working in cooperation with local government authorities, government ministries, and other community agencies, Metzila, to date, operates anti-violence projects for children, teenagers and adults in more than forty towns – both Jewish and Arab – throughout the country.

The topic of violence in general and juvenile violence in particular continues to feature on the public agenda. In order to counter these phenomena, Metzila  operates programs to prevent violence among children, youth and adults. The programs are run in kindergartens, schools and in the community at large.

Metzila is funded by the Israeli Government and operates in approximately 76 communities and youth villages throughout Israel.