Israeli police on Saturday arrested four Arab security guards suspected of assaulting police officers in the Arab town of Kfar Qasim the previous day.
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The detainees are part of the town's security forces, known as Al-Hirasa, which belong to the Islamic Movement, tasked by the municipality with monitoring city hall and patrolling surrounding areas.
On Friday morning, two Israeli police officers responded to a report of violent altercations at the city hall compound. As they attempted to enter the facility, they were accosted by Al-Hirasa members and the incident quickly turned violent.
From a video of the incident that was widely shared online, it appears that the officers were kicked and repeatedly punched in the face, after trying to use an electric taser against one of the guards, who appeared unfazed.
The Kafr Qasim municipality issued a statement denouncing the incident, saying it condemned any attack on police officers "doing their job."
The incident took place amid a spike in violent incidents in Israel's Arab sector.
According to Channel 13 News, MK Walid Taha of the coalition's Ra'am party had himself been involved in forming the Al-Hirasa group. Taha did not comment.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Saturday condemned "violence in Arab society" which he said had "reached an intolerable point."
He tweeted: "We will fight it with all our strength. I expect the Arab community, which has been asking the state to intervene, to give police officers full backing and support."
Likud MK Nir Barkat on Saturday night said: "The attack on the police in Kfar Qasim is very serious and indicates a loss of deterrence. I know up close the sacred work of the police from my tenure as mayor of Jerusalem and in general – and we must give them backing. Israel is a state of law and we must not agree to the existence of armed phalanxes in the Arab sector," Barkat said.
"It is inconceivable that law enforcement is afraid to enter Arab communities that operate like in the Wild West and which raise a hand against the security forces and police. Decisive action and the use of an iron hand that will restore law and order in all parts of the State of Israel, and will put an end to lawlessness and the loss of deterrence, is required."
Israel Police Commissioner Yaakov (Kobi) Shabtai said following the attack: "We will not ignore the incidents of violence against police officers, such as what occurred in Kfar Qasim. I have instructed the district and regional command to act with determination and force and to detain anyone who took part in the event, and we will place at their disposal any resources and forces they request."
Public Security Minister Omer Barlev described the private security guards from the Al-Hirasa group as a "local militia," adding that "the suspects who were arrested and anyone who thinks he can lift a hand against those in uniform will be brought to justice."
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MK Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra'am party, said Saturday he'd spoken to Shabtai to "express unequivocal condemnation" of the attack on officers and to wish those injured a speedy recovery. He "stressed the obligation to abide by the law" and called for increased cooperation between police and the Arab citizenry "so that we can defeat crime and burgeoning violence in Arab society."
In August, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett unveiled a plan to fight crime in Arab-Israeli towns and communities.
