Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has assigned two Border Police companies to join the fight against the alarming crime rate in the Negev. The decision was endorsed by Public Security Minister Omer Barlev.
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According to the plan, the two companies will join forces in the south and assist them in the matter. Depending on the situation, the government might take additional steps.
Just last week, Commander of the Border Police's Southern District, Tomer Eldar, lamented the lack of manpower in the south.
"The number of tasks far exceeds the number of people we can assign to them and if I could double our staff we would be able to conduct many more operations," he said.
The move was commended by Pini Badash, mayor of the southern Omer council that has greatly been affected by violence in the Bedouin sector.
"Only the Border Police can solve the Bedouin problem in the south," he said. "They know how to get the job done properly."
In addition, the Negev Rescue Committee warned it will "not be deceived by temporary solutions to alleviate public pressure. We will continue to fight until there is a proper permanent solution for the Negev."
On Wednesday, 26-year-old Amro Abu Maklad Jabareen was gunned down in his car in the northern town of Umm al-Fahm, marking the second homicide in the city in 24 hours and the 102nd murder in the Arab community this year. Another man, aged 24, was seriously injured in the incident.
The Umm al-Fahm city council convened for an emergency meeting.
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