From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Ben Gvir touts ‘change of course’ in law enforcement; police chief vows to end ‘monster’ Arab crime wave
Addressing officers at a police ceremony in Beit Shemesh, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir hails a so-called “change of course” taking place in law enforcement since he first took office.
At the city’s National Police Academy, he tells the crowd that, unlike his predecessors, he ensures “full backing” to cops who fatally shoot civilians in apparent acts of self-defense.
Referring to earlier this month when a policeman shot a reportedly armed civilian during a shootout in Ararat an-Naqab, Ben Gvir says the incident would have formerly raised “stammering” in the minister’s office. “Today there is no stammering, there is no tongue-clicking — there is full support [to the officer],” he says to applause from the audience.
Continuing with another example, Ben Gvir says that before he took office, “when a terrorist threw a Molotov cocktail, the fighter who eliminated him would encounter a minister who wants an investigation, wants explanations.”
“Today, I also ask for explanations, [namely] whether it is possible to review the promotion of someone who shot a terrorist!” he exclaims.
He also takes credit for leading a “historic reform” for civilians’ eligibility to bear arms, pointing to a sharp rise in gun permits granted on his watch. “Before I came [into the ministry] the average was 8,000 [gun] licenses per year, and today the average is 200,000 licenses per year,” he says with a smile.
He touts the proliferation of volunteer security teams in the wake of the October 7 massacre, and several laws allowing police broad discretion when pursuing criminals.
“We’ve given you vast tools of administrative restrictions,” he tells the audience, referring to a recently passed law allowing police to drastically curb suspects’ freedom of movement and expression on the basis of secret evidence. He lauds another law which allows police to “search homes without an order.”
Also speaking at the event is Israel Police chief Daniel Levy, who announces that next month the police plan to launch a “long-term strategic plan” to combat crime in Arab society.
“We are conducting a determined and consistent fight against crime, with an emphasis on crime in Arab society. We will destroy this monster, and it is our commitment to the Arab sector,” Levy says.
There have been at least 76 homicides in the Arab community since the start of 2025 — a similar pace to 2024 and 2023, according to the Abraham Initiatives.
The coexistence group has recorded the unprecedented rise in violent crime in the Arab community in the first two years in office of Ben Gvir, whose portfolio includes the police.
The Times of Israel Community.