Government greenlights bill to label certain crime organizations as terror groups

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation voted on Sunday to back a bill to allow the national security minister to label certain criminal organizations as terror groups, allowing law enforcement to take far-reaching steps against them, apparently taking aim at organized crime in Arab society.

The bill will go up for a preliminary vote in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday.

The move to define criminal organizations as terror groups was initially discussed and approved by the Prime Minister’s Office in May, but the idea remained vague and ill-defined, until a bill was introduced by Otmza Yehudit MK Tzvika Fogel.

Fogel’s bill laid out a course of action that would allow the national security minister to define certain criminal organizations as terrorist organizations in “severe and exceptional cases” — with the defense minister’s approval.

In practice, the bill would allow police and Shin Bet to make use of wide-reaching enforcement and investigative methods outlined in Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Law, which are less bound by concerns of due process and suspects’ rights.

A criminal organization would be liable to be declared a terrorist organization if it met just one of four criteria: making systematic use of firearms; operating in an organized manner to threaten government institutions, public authorities, or elected officials; repeatedly using coercion and extortion against the public; or collaborating with a terrorist organization.

Hebrew outlets reported that newly appointed Shin Bet chief David Zini was expected to back the proposed legislation — a 180° reversal of the security agency’s previous stance; however, the Shin Bet has not yet publicly adopted this position.

Zini’s rumored support of the bill won praise from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who called the legislation the “important and correct step to take at this moment.”

The far-right minister also heaped compliments on Zini, who took the reins of the Shin Bet last month.

“There is a Shin Bet chief in Israel!!! I’m proud that the head of the Shin Bet is bringing a new outlook and has adopted my position and the bill proposed by my party member, MK Zvika Fogel,” Ben Gvir said.

He added that Zini brings a “good and fresh perspective to the organization, unlike his predecessor” — taking a jab at ex-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who was forced out of his role by the government earlier this year.

Organized crime, rampant arms trafficking, and frequent shootings have wreaked havoc in Arab locales for years, with over 200 Arab citizens having fallen victim to homicide so far in 2025.

While many Arab mayors blame the issue on police negligence, some have argued that law enforcement is simply unequipped to deal with the phenomenon, citing insufficient technology and a lack of manpower.

Speaking to The Times of Israel earlier this month, Rahat mayor Talal al-Kernawi said the local police force is in dire need of more patrol cars, security cameras, and officers — blaming the National Security Ministry for not providing such resources.

According to al-Kernawi, the main cause of a recent resurgence in violence amid two rekindled blood feuds in Rahat, Israel’s largest Arab city, was illegal firearms possession.

“Anyone carrying an illegal firearm must be punished as if they are threatening national security,” he said.

The mayor stopped short, however, of endorsing the proposal to label criminal organizations as terror organizations, saying such a move is symbolic, with little bearing on reality.

Lazar Berman contributed to this report.