Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began the cabinet meeting this morning (Sunday) by referring to the rising violence in the Arab sector and stated that he is determined to integrate the Shin Bet into the battle against criminal organizations in Israel.
“The murders in the Arab sector have become a national calamity. A significant part of the crime, these are criminal organizations that make the lives of Arab citizens bitter, control through terror and fear, , and charge protection, which becomes a large-scale calamity, and not only in the Arab sector,” Netanyahu said.
He added: “The government is determined to fight the criminal organizations at the head of the snake. Today I will hold a special meeting to integrate the Shin Bet in a targeted effort against the crime families.”
Netanyahu will hold a discussion later today on the issue of crime in Arab society and the integration of the Shin Bet in dealing with the phenomenon after the cabinet meeting. Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar is expected to participate in the discussion.

Kan News reported that Shin Bet officials disapprove of integrating the organization’s capabilities into Arab crime incidents on a regular basis and claim that this would reveal the organization’s classified capabilities which are intended for the war on terrorism.
Former Deputy Commissioner of the Israel National Police Zohar Dvir said this morning that in his opinion “the integration of the Shin Bet can help in the context of weapons, if the police receive some of its capabilities and the legal backing”.
According to him, “it is more difficult to deal with the crime families in Arab society because it is more difficult to penetrate the family.”
In addition, the government is considering using a “loophole” in the Shin Bet law that would allow the organization to be brought into the efforts to combat crime in the Arab sector.
Under the law, the Knesset can grant the ability to the Shin Bet through a clause that says that this will be possible for “activity in another field determined by the government, with the approval of the Knesset National Security Committee, which is intended to preserve and promote state interests essential to the national security of the country.”
In addition, the government is considering enacting in the Knesset a temporary order allowing for the Shin Bet’s involvement in the issue