From the Liveblog of
Monday, June 5, 2023
Ben Gvir to appoint czar to oversee fight against violence in Arab community
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National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announces his intention to appoint a czar to oversee the fight against crime and murder in the Arab community.
Ben Gvir makes the announcement after a situational assessment with police chiefs, hours after two men were shot dead in separate incidents in Arab communities.
They were the 89th and 90th Arabs killed in homicides this year, according to the Abraham Initiatives, which has tracked the slayings in the community as they have multiplied in recent years.
Ben Gvir said he would complete the search for a candidate for the job and appoint them within two weeks.
“I intend to put the fight against crime and murders in Arab society at the top of the priorities of the Ministry of National Security. Furthermore, I intend to allocate enormous resources for this purpose by bringing police officers to the area, raising police salaries and establishing the National Guard,” Ben Gvir said.
However, many in the Arab community view Ben Gvir and his plans for National Guard with suspicion and have refused to cooperate with the far-right firebrand who has in the past called for deporting “disloyal” Arabs.
The Times of Israel Community.