Police shutter construction site in northern Israel after uncovering weapons stash

32-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possessing two pistols, magazines and ammunition; police say latest bust part of larger effort against illegal arms possession in north

Police uncovered a stash of hidden weapons while raiding a construction site in the northern town of Arraba last weekend, law enforcement announced Friday.

The arms discovered in the Arab Galilee village on Saturday, November 22, included Glock and Desert Eagle pistols, magazines and large amounts of ammunition.

Northern District and Border Police officers arrested a 32-year-old local resident on suspicion of possession. The investigation is ongoing, and comes amid national outcry over a wave of crime and homicides in the Arab community.

Following the discovery, the commander of the Misgav police station, Chief Supt. Aner Yosef, issued a 30-day closure order for the site.

Authorities said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to combat serious crime and illegal weapons possession in the north. Since the start of 2025, nearly 1,000 weapons have been seized in northern Israel, and the activity of several armed cells has been thwarted, police added.

Earlier in November, authorities uncovered a Druze weapons smuggling ring trafficking arms from southern Syria to criminal elements in northern Israel.

A total of 12 suspects, including five Druze soldiers who were stationed in Syria, were arrested on suspicion of smuggling assault rifles and other weapons into the country. Four of the five soldiers were charged by IDF prosecutors at a military court.

Among the seven civilian suspects were three Syrian citizens and four Israeli citizens, who enlisted the soldiers’ help to transport the contraband using military vehicles. All civilian suspects were charged with arms trafficking offenses.