Israel battles rising lawlessness while leaders clash, exposing long-term failures that endangered Jewish communities.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir unleashed a fierce political broadside on Wednesday night, accusing the Likud party of abandoning the Negev for decades and allowing crime to spiral out of control. In a fiery interview with Kan 11 News, Ben Gvir declared, “Likud neglected the Negev for 30 years. I will restore governance there.”
His remarks followed public outrage over a brazen attempted robbery in Ofakim, where masked attackers armed with clubs smashed into a jewelry shop in a busy shopping center. Video footage showed the criminals shattering the store’s entrance before fleeing when employees triggered the alarm and smoke-defense system—yet another reminder of how organized Arab crime networks have targeted vulnerable Israeli towns.
Ben Gvir also reignited controversy surrounding the Sde Teiman video leak and the role of the Military Advocate General. He again insisted that the MAG’s phone held incriminating evidence against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, a claim that has fueled political tensions and deepened distrust between law enforcement and government authorities.
“There are police officers who have an interest in contradicting me,” he charged. “The phone contains evidence against the Attorney General. If she wants, let her sue me.”
The comments reflect mounting frustration over security lapses in southern Israel, where Jewish communities have faced escalating criminal violence, rampant smuggling networks, and weakened deterrence—problems many argue worsened under years of political complacency. Ben Gvir’s pledge to reassert control over the Negev taps into growing demand for tougher enforcement and stronger protection for Israeli citizens living in the region.
