From the Liveblog of
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Ben Gvir confronted by residents during Umm al-Fahm visit: ‘When Arabs are killed it doesn’t bother you’
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National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir tours Umm al-Fahm this morning alongside a large contingent of police forces, aimed at encouraging police to crack down on unlawful construction.
The far-right politician’s provocative visit to the Arab city sparks opposition from residents, some of whom hassle him as he walks the streets, flanked by security guards and Border Police officers.
“You destroyed this country, you destroyed it all,” one bystander can be heard saying in a video online. “We follow the law better than you do.”
“We are the landlords here,” the bystander continues, repurposing Ben Gvir’s well-known campaign slogan in the 2022 elections, seen by many as explicitly antagonistic toward Arabs. He accuses the minister of neglecting the spiraling murder rate in Arab towns throughout Israel, saying, “When Arabs are killed it doesn’t bother you.”
Over the past week alone, 11 Arab Israelis across the country have been killed in violent criminal incidents. Arab politicians and communal leaders have accused Ben Gvir of purposeful neglect of the issue, citing the infrequency with which police solve Arab sector murders.
Ben Gvir bickers with some of the residents, remarking to a man, “You aren’t used to seeing police?” to which the resident replies: “My father was a police officer.”
In a statement from his office, Ben Gvir says the tour was coordinated with police, Border Police and Israel Land Authority officials.
“After three decades of neglect and lawlessness, finally we are acting and enforcing, in the Negev, in Umm al-Fahm and everywhere,” he claims in a statement. “I am impressed with the work of the forces and expect as much action as possible against construction offenders. Governance and sovereignty begin here.”
The city’s Mayor Samir Mahamid comes out strongly against Ben Gvir’s visit, which was said not to have been coordinated with local officials. Mahamid accuses him of coming to Umm al-Fahm in order to “sow destruction, division and hatred” and claims the visit is a cynical publicity stunt aimed at “creating headlines” at the expense of the city’s residents.
השר בן גביר מגיע לאום אל פחם לא כדי לסייע אלא כדי לזרוע הרס, פירוד ושנאה. מניעיו פוליטיים וציניים- ליצור כותרות על חשבון חיי תושבים שוחרי חיים ושוויון. אנו דוחים בשאט נפש ניסיונות שכאלה. עיריית אום אל פחם תמשיך לפעול לבנייה ולשיפור איכות החיים בעיר. pic.twitter.com/SYl3Ncj5bN
— ד״ר סמיר מחאמיד Dr. Samir mahamid (@SamirMhamid) September 7, 2025
The Times of Israel Community.