The Israeli Executive has presented a coordinated plan endowed with nearly 500 million shekels (more than 145 million euros) for "the fight against crime in the Arab sector" —that is, in the areas of the country with the largest presence of Arab population— in which the Police and the Intelligence service traditionally known as Shin Bet will collaborate.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu and Ministers (of Social Equality) May Golan and (of National Security) Ben-Gvir, the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) will join the fight against crime through a joint plan with the Police, financed with approximately 500 million shekels," reads the joint statement signed by the leader and the two mentioned portfolio heads.
According to the breakdown of the program, the former Shin Bet will concentrate slightly more than 73.3% of the total budget with the aim of "establishing a specialized unit to combat smuggling and arms trafficking, and to strengthen its operational and intelligence capabilities." To this will be added a "permanent budget of 35 million shekels (10.2 million euros) annually" starting this year, as well as the creation of 130 new positions.
For its part, the Police will receive slightly more than the remaining 26.6% of the global amount, a sum intended for "the creation of a specialized national unit to combat crime in Arab society."
Netanyahu defines criminality as a "national plague"
Following the announcement, Netanyahu has described the Shin Bet's involvement in "the fight against crime in Arab society" as "transcendental," a phenomenon he has described as a "national plague."
In the words of the prime minister, "the combination of the ISA's intelligence, operational, and technological capabilities, along with the Police's activities" will make it possible "to reach the leaders of criminal organizations, attack their infrastructure, and restore security."
"We will not accept a reality of violence, extortion, and murder in our streets," he stated, before expressing his recognition to the far-right Ben Gvir and Golan, a former member of the party led by the current Minister of Security and a regular companion of his in actions in favor of the reestablishment of settler settlements in the Gaza Strip or in defense of the Israeli presence and control in the Old City of Jerusalem.