The President of the State convened the heads of authorities in the Negev for an emergency discussion:
“The situation in the Negev is a national emergency. It is inconceivable that since the beginning of January, 11 Arab citizens have been murdered in the State of Israel. Stop and think about this number, 11 citizens! This is an unimaginable figure. This is a national disaster and a national challenge. Arab citizens of Israel are entitled to live in complete security, just like their Jewish brothers and sisters. Israeli law must apply in all authorities, and our duty is not only to establish it but also to enforce it.
The President added: “I commit to acting on this issue with the Israeli government, to improve the situation and bring about the necessary calm. I call on everyone to engage in dialogue. Violence will lead nowhere. I call for a full investigation and examination of the incident in Tarabin – this is important so that both the Bedouin citizen and the Jewish citizen know the truth.”
Following the escalating violence and crime in Arab society, President Isaac Herzog convened the heads of authorities in the Negev for an emergency discussion today, Wednesday, 18 Tevet, January 7.
The meeting is being held against the backdrop of the police operation “New Order,” which was born as part of the fight against violence and crime in Arab society, and emphasizes significant enforcement and increased police presence in Bedouin communities in the Negev.
The purpose of the meeting is to jointly examine the solution to the lack of a sense of security for both Jewish and Arab residents in the Negev. And to hear the voices of elected officials in the Negev from all its shades.
From the words of President Isaac Herzog: “I am holding this emergency discussion because it reflects a real emergency, an emergency that exists in the Negev, and it also exists in Arab society as a whole.
Today we focused on the Negev, and what emerged from the discussion is very important – there were many more agreements than disagreements. We all agree that we are against racism. We all agree that we are for law enforcement. We all agree that we must continue to build the Negev together. We are all committed to continuing together in the development of the Negev, its advancement, the eradication of violence and crime, and the provision of opportunities for the younger generation and all residents of the region. I call on everyone to calm down, to engage in dialogue. Violence will lead nowhere. I call for a full investigation and examination of everything related to the incident in Tarabin, this is important so that both the Bedouin citizen and the Jewish citizen know the truth. Ultimately, we must allow oxygen to flow back into the Negev, while continuing to ensure that the law is upheld everywhere. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, and good luck to us all.”
Mayor of Be’er Sheva, Rubik Danilovich, emphasized the shared desire to find a solution and said: “This is not just another meeting – we are here to demand solutions, and there are solutions. Crime affects everyone, and they are interconnected. All citizens of Israel have the same rights, and they also have the same obligations. When the state does not act decisively, we see the result every morning in the number of murdered, especially in Arab society. This crime is clouding the relations between Jews and Arabs, between Jews and Bedouins, and endangers the common fabric of Israeli society. We have experienced severe upheavals in recent years, and we must not allow extremists to take over the discourse. The moderate majority must make its voice heard clearly, and the state must act now.”
Mayor of Rahat, Talal Al-Krinawi, said: “The entire leadership of the Bedouin sector and the heads of authorities in the sector see and cooperate with the efforts of the Israel Police in the fight against crime. We are not against the police, quite the opposite. We want a strong, present, and active police force, one that will fight crime with determination and equality. At the same time, it is important to say honestly that the situation is burning day by day. A discourse of threats and delegitimization is dangerous and ignites the situation. When a moderate citizen hears violent statements, he asks himself what he is supposed to tell our children, how they will grow up here together, Jews and Bedouins. Such a discourse must not deepen the rift and paint an entire public as criminals.
Mayor of Dimona, Beni Biton, added: “We are all here together, there is no Bedouin sector and no Jewish sector. There is one sector, and its name is the Negev. We are going through difficult and not simple days in the Negev, but alongside that, there is also immense pride and development here. Violence is no longer confined to the fringes – another murder, it bleeds and hurts. Violence reaches the Negev, the North, Tel Aviv, it is already everywhere. We have gathered here today to hold a round table and say enough! We must put this issue at the forefront and take action.”
Present at the meeting were: Mayor of Rahat, Talal Al-Krinawi, Head of the Lakia Council, Sharif Alasad, Head of the Hura Council, Habbes Al-Atawneh, Head of the Segev Shalom Council, Qa’ed Abu Mamar, Head of the Kuseife Council, Abdelaziz Nassasra, Head of the Tel Sheva Council, Omar Al-A’zam, Head of the Ar’ara BaNegev Council, Talib Abu Ar’ar, Head of the Neve Midbar Regional Council, Salama Abu Adisan, Member of the Al-Kasom Regional Council from Tarabin, Mayor of Dimona, Beni Biton, Mayor of Be’er Sheva, Rubik Danilovich, Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan, Head of the Central Arava Regional Council, Meir Tzur, Head of the Meitar Regional Council, Shimon Peretz, Head of the Lahavim Regional Council, Elad Erezi, and Head of the Bnei Shimon Regional Council, Nir Zamir.
Photo credit: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO
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