Shin Bet on Jewish-Arab violence: ‘Terror for all intents and purposes’

The Shin Bet security service says it is helping crack down on the recent ethnic violence and rioting in Jewish-Arab cities, which it calls “terror for all intents and purposes.”

The security service is using “intelligence collecting capabilities” to learn about any plans to carry out attacks or engage in violent clashes, as well as the identities of those behind these plans, according to a statement. The Shin Bet says it is doing so “to thwart these incidents and to locate, arrest, investigate and put the perpetrators on trial.”

The security service also says Shin Bet agents are operating in the cities and areas where the violence is occurring.

“We won’t allow violent rioters to impose terror on the streets of Israel, either by Arabs or Jews,” Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman says in a statement.

He also says the Shin Bet will use all its capabilities and act against “whoever tries to harm Israeli citizens, Jews or Arabs, until the calm returns to the streets of the country.”