Police arrest 36 suspects linked to shootings in south amid crackdown

Police arrested 36 suspects overnight linked to shootings in the Negev, law enforcement announces, as part of a sweeping operation in the area aimed at combating violent crime in the desert region.

The arrests come after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced the commencement of the “New Order” operation, with hundreds of officers set to boost enforcement of traffic laws and take guns off the streets.

As part of the operation last night, National Guard troops and Negev District police seized an M16 assault rifle stolen from an army base and arrested the individual in possession of it, police say.

At the same time, officers in police’s Unit 33, focused on counter-terror operations, nabbed four suspects in an alleged weapons smuggling ring.

Officers seized two cars belonging to the suspects and NIS 37,000 (approximately $11,000) in the raid.

Law enforcement adds that police have so far issued over 250 traffic tickets since the start of the operation.

Last night, Ben Gvir toured Lakiya, north of Beersheba, hours after police erected roadblocks at the entrance to the Negev Bedouin town.

The move incensed residents and Lakiya’s council chairman, Sharif al-Asad, who accused law enforcement of treating the population as “second-class citizens.”