The management of the Local Government Center, headed by Chairman Haim Bibas, held a special emergency discussion this morning with Police Commissioner, Commissioner-General Daniel Levi, on the issue of violence in Arab society and the infringement of personal security.
The discussion was attended by senior police command staff and over 100 heads of authorities from all sectors, who convened to strengthen cooperation and promote immediate steps against the escalating violence in Arab society.
During the meeting, Arab local authority heads presented a grim picture of daily harm to innocent citizens who are paying a heavy price in blood.
The parties discussed a series of urgent and immediate operational measures for cooperation, including increased police presence and reinforcement of patrols at friction points immediately, leading national operations to confiscate illegal weapons, expanding the use of advanced technological means, and investing resources to increase clearance rates.
The participants also discussed the urgent need to increase public awareness among the Arab public regarding the importance of reporting violent disputes to the police, filing complaints, preserving crime scenes, and refraining from taking the law into one’s own hands in retaliatory actions.
Furthermore, the critical importance of strengthening the protection of elected officials and public servants who are under threat was discussed, as part of the joint effort to maintain governance.
Police Commissioner, Commissioner-General Dani Levi:
“The Israel Police is engaged in a determined, continuous, and uncompromising fight against crime in Arab society, until the collapse of criminal organizations, the dismantling of illegal weapons infrastructure, and the restoration of personal security to citizens. I have instructed all police districts to deploy full force, personnel, means, and resources, special units, intelligence, quality investigations, and overt and covert operations, to strike at the heart of criminality, the heads of organizations, and those who fund and operate them.
“We are there day and night, in the field, in the communities, and at sensitive points, and we will continue to act with determination against anyone who possesses weapons, shoots, extorts, and threatens. This is a war for human lives, for families, for children, and for the future of Arab society and Israeli society as a whole.
“To succeed in this struggle, the Israel Police stands at the forefront, but a full, determined, and coordinated commitment from all enforcement bodies is required – including the immediate return of the necessary technological tools for use.
“Only a combined, strong, and continuous action by all state branches – the State Attorney’s Office, the court system, the Tax Authority, the Authority for the Prohibition of Money Laundering, and all enforcement bodies – will enable us to strike at the economic power of criminal organizations, dry up their sources of money, and bring about a clear result on the ground.
“This struggle will continue until we restore security to the citizens and until the criminals understand that they have no place here.”
Chairman of the Local Government Center, Haim Bibas:
“We are in the midst of a national emergency. 53 murder victims since the beginning of 2026 are evidence that a significant change and unprecedented close cooperation between the police and the field are required.
“The heads of local authorities are committed to cooperation with the police and must work together to address the root of the problem.
“This violence is terrorism in every sense – these are criminal organizations that behave like a state within a state.
“We are here to promote immediate actions to eradicate crime. We have approached the Prime Minister with a demand to activate all means, including Shin Bet capabilities, to dismantle the organizations and eliminate their economic infrastructure.”
Mazeen Ganaim, Chairman of the Forum of Arab Local Authority Heads and Mayor of Sakhnin, described the sense of emergency in Arab communities and emphasized that the reality in which citizens – including young people, women, and families – are not protected in their homes and on the streets is unbearable and requires an immediate, strong, and integrated response from all enforcement and local government bodies. “We want everyone to understand that this is a shared fate. The engineer, the doctor, the teacher, everyone wants to return home safely. It’s absurd that this is the only request we have right now.”
Alongside local authority heads from across the country, senior police command staff present included Commander of the National Headquarters Boaz Balt, Commander of Lahav 433 Meni Benyamin, the officer in charge of crime in Arab society Maoz Ben Shabo, Commander of the Border Police Yitzhak Barik, Head of the Community and Volunteers Division Sigal Toledo, Head of the Intelligence Division Oshri Abukasis, Head of the Spokesperson Division Lior Abudraham, Deputy Head of Operations Shlomi Toledano, and Police Spokesperson Aryeh Doron.