2 arrested over video of masked gunmen firing into air at Bedouin wedding procession

Police arrested two people Sunday in the southern Bedouin town of Tel Sheva after masked suspects were filmed firing rifles from an SUV during a wedding procession over the weekend.

Cops arrested two men, one in his 20s and the other in his 40s, and seized three vehicles suspected of being linked to the incident.

Footage published on social media showed suspects driving in a convoy through Tel Sheva and surrounding open areas firing shots into the air.

The two suspects were to appear before the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court for a remand hearing on Monday.

Police said they were working to prevent exchanges of fire between rival gangs. Law enforcers, politicians and community leaders have struggled over the past several years to rein in criminal activity, which has driven spiking violence.

According to the Abraham Initiatives, an anti-violence monitoring group, at least 103 Arabs have been killed in violent circumstances since the start of the year, a major leap from the 44 slayings at this point in 2022.

בעקבות תיעודים של חמושים בחתונה בתל שבע בסוף השבוע, המשטרה פשטה על היישוב@Itsik_zuarets pic.twitter.com/KFCzzQaISP

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) June 18, 2023

Many Arab community leaders blame authorities and the police, who they say have failed to crack down on powerful criminal organizations and largely ignore the violence, which includes family feuds, mafia turf wars, and violence against women. The communities have also suffered from years of neglect by state authorities.

In light of the soaring crime wave, there have been growing calls for the removal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who is in charge of the police.