National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is en route to the southern Bedouin town of Tarabin al-Sana following a suspected arson attack in a nearby Jewish town overnight.
Five cars went up in flames in Lehavim, an affluent town northeast of Tarabin al-Sana, in what police suspect is arson carried out as revenge for a sweeping raid in the Bedouin village.
The far-right minister is expected to deliver a message at the entrance to Tarabin al-Sana denouncing the “price tag” attack against the police operation that aims to “bring back governance to the Negev,” his office says.
Tensions have been high in the Negev for a month as police crack down on crime in the Bedouin sector, as part of Operation New Order, which Ben Gvir declared in mid-November.
On Monday, hundreds of heavily armed officers entered Tarabin al-Sana in an ongoing raid that has seen 24 arrests so far, including four minors on suspicion of stone-throwing. Residents have complained that the operation constitutes collective punishment.
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
Support our work
Support our work
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this