Netanyahu announces 500 million-shekel plan to tackle violent crime within Israel's Arab community
The Israeli government approved a 500 million-shekel initiative to combat crime within the Israeli Arab community, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday in a post on X.
The funding will support the creation of a new Israel Police unit to target criminal organizations using advanced technology, alongside a dedicated Shin Bet unit to combat arms smuggling and weapons trafficking while strengthening intelligence and operational capabilities.
Netanyahu said the full capabilities of the state will be used to “go after the leaders of criminal organizations, cut off their sources of power and funding, dismantle their infrastructure, and restore personal security to Israel's citizens.”
The funding comes after 2025 marked the deadliest year on record for violent crime within Israel's Arab community, with the trend continuing into 2026.
