Israel Approves Shin Bet Involvement in Arab-Sector Crime, Allocating 497 Million Shekels
On Wednesday night, the Israeli government approved a new security initiative that will deploy the Shin Bet—Israel’s internal security agency—into the fight against organized crime in the country’s Arab sector.
The move, spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister for Social Equality May Golan and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, will reallocate 497 million shekels (roughly $165 million) from the government’s five‑year development plan for Arab society, GR‑550, to finance the operation.
Under the approved budget, 364.5 million shekels (about $121.5 million) will be dedicated to the Shin Bet for the creation of a unit focused on weapon smuggling and trafficking.
The allocation aims to bolster the agency’s intelligence‑gathering and operational capabilities within the Arab sector.
An additional 132.4 million shekels (around $44 million) will be earmarked for the Israel Police. The money will fund a national unit that will confront crime in Arab communities, building technological infrastructure and procuring advanced equipment.
The plan also sets aside a permanent annual budget of 35 million shekels (approximately $11.6 million) starting in 2026, and creates 130 new personnel positions for the Shin Bet.
Prime Minister Netanyahu described the move as a “dramatic news” and a “significant step” in the country’s broader effort to curb criminal activity. He said, “The inclusion of the Shin Bet in the fight against crime in the Arab sector, which has become a national plague, is dramatic news and a significant step in our all‑out war against criminal organizations… We will not accept a reality of violence, extortion, and murder in the streets.”
Minister Golan added that she had fought to expose the “five‑year plan of the Bennett‑Abbas government” and to stop the continued transfer of public funds to criminal organisations. She stated, “I fought against immense pressures, corrupt bureaucracy, and media attacks in order to stop the continued transfer of billions without oversight and control. I presented Prime Minister Netanyahu with classified intelligence indicating the leakage of public funds to deadly criminal organizations.”
Minister Ben Gvir highlighted the change in leadership at the Shin Bet. He said, “A tremendous piece of news for the citizens of Israel, bitter news for the criminal organisations. After the previous, failed Shin Bet chief, Ronen Bar, dug in his heels to prevent the Shin Bet from entering the fight against Arab crime, the excellent new Shin Bet chief, David Zini, has taken on the challenge.”
The initiative follows a broader trend of increased security cooperation between the Shin Bet and the Israel Police. Both agencies operate under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Security, and the new unit will coordinate intelligence and operational efforts to address the rising rates of violence and weapon trafficking reported in Arab‑majority areas.
The government’s decision to reallocate funds from the GR‑550 plan has drawn attention from civil‑society groups that argue the diversion may impact long‑term development projects for Arab communities. However, officials have emphasized that the funds will be used exclusively for security purposes.
As the plan moves into implementation, the Israeli security establishment will begin recruiting the additional personnel and establishing the required infrastructure. The first operational activities are expected to commence in early 2026, with the new budget and personnel framework taking effect that year.
The initiative represents a significant shift in Israel’s domestic security strategy, expanding the role of the Shin Bet beyond its traditional focus on counter‑terrorism to include organized crime within the Arab sector.
