Hebrew Report: Questions About the Fate of 2.2 Billion Shekels Amid Failure to Combat Crime in the Arab Community

Translation by SadaNews - An analytical Hebrew report indicated that the rise of crime in the Arab community within the territories of 48 raises serious questions about the performance of the Israeli government, particularly concerning the implementation of the five-year plan dedicated to combating crime, which has a budget of 2.2 billion shekels.

According to SadaNews translation, the report stated that on the night between Wednesday and Thursday, five "members of the Arab community" were killed, raising the number of victims since the beginning of the year to dozens, continuing a series of violence that claimed hundreds of victims last year.

The report questioned the role of Roy Kahlon, the head of the crime prevention bureau in the Arab community, considering that if he views his position as having an actual responsibility for combating crime, he should bear responsibility amidst what was described as "ongoing governmental failure," according to SadaNews translation.

The report noted that Kahlon stated before the National Security Committee in the Knesset in May 2025 that the bureau he heads holds regular meetings and leads multiple task forces, claiming that the implementation rate of the five-year plan budget (549) reached 93%. However, the report posed a direct question: If this percentage is accurate, where is its reflection on the ground given the increasing number of victims?

According to SadaNews translation, the newspaper quoted Kahlon as attributing part of the responsibility to the Attorney General, claiming that she did not allow the classification of criminal organizations as "terrorist organizations," a claim that the report considered unjustified, noting that many countries have succeeded in combating organized crime without resorting to this classification.

The report further added that the Israeli government, which possesses a parliamentary majority, could have pushed for legislation that grants the police broader powers if it desired, yet the results on the ground indicate – according to the newspaper – a lack of sufficient political will to address the phenomenon radically.

The report also mentioned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering transferring the responsibility of the crime prevention bureau to the Ministry of National Security, led by Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, in a move interpreted by the report as an attempt to redistribute responsibilities amidst rising criticism.

The report concluded: "The continued rise in the numbers of deaths in the Arab community raises difficult questions about the effectiveness of the announced government plans, and about the fate of the massive budgets allocated to combat crime, at a time when Arab families continue to suffer from the escalating cycle of violence."