Against the backdrop of the alarming crime wave in the Arab sector, police officials expressed concern this week that it may overflow to the rest of Israeli society.
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"The reality is tragic for Israeli society in general and Arab society in particular, and as the police commissioner I am anxious about it, but the anxiety does not paralyze us," Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said.
According to one police official, crime has become particularly widespread following the coronavirus pandemic.
"Since COVID, society in general has become more violent, and there has definitely been an increase in the level of violence and the danger is spreading."
Since the beginning of 2023, 102 people have been killed in the Arab sector – nearly three times as many as in the same period last year. The most recent murder victims were five young Arab Israelis, who were gunned down in an Arab town in northern Israel last Thursday.
The spike in violence is attributed to organized crime groups fighting turf battles and trying to kill rivals.
Likud lawmaker Eliyahu Revivo proposed legislation to allow the Shin Bet security agency, which is primarily responsible for counterterrorism and counter-espionage, to become more active in fighting crime in the Arab sector.
The agency and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara objected to Revivo's proposal, which led to the bill's ultimate rejection by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.
Shin Bet leaders are reportedly concerned that employing the agency to fight domestic crime would lead to the exposure of its methods, while Baharav-Miara and previous Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit have argued that the Shin Bet can only have a "limited role" in fighting crime.
Arab Israelis have called for the government to take stronger measures against the criminal gangs, but are deeply opposed to the Shin Bet being tasked with fighting crime.
JNS.org contributed to this report.
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