Firm Israeli governance advances in Negev despite criminal intimidation, restoring order abandoned by decades of neglect.
Israel is pressing forward with long-overdue governance in the Negev, undeterred by criminal intimidation. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir made another visit to the Bedouin village of Tarabin following the torching of five vehicles in the nearby Jewish town of Lehavim—an incident police assess as a retaliatory “price tag” attack against intensified law enforcement.
The visit forms part of Operation “New Order,” launched under Police Commissioner Danny Levi. The operation targets illegal weapons trafficking, unauthorized construction, and chronic lawlessness that has flourished after decades of state absence. Israeli authorities say the goal is simple and overdue: equal enforcement of the law for all residents and the restoration of basic governance.
Speaking to Arutz Sheva–Israel National News after touring the village, Ben-Gvir drew a sharp distinction between law-abiding residents and criminal elements. He emphasized that normative residents have nothing to fear, while those engaging in violence, arson, and intimidation will face firm policing. “The rules have changed,” a police official said, stressing that attacks aimed at deterring enforcement will instead trigger intensified measures.
At a press briefing near Tarabin, Ben-Gvir noted that for three decades the Negev was effectively abandoned, allowing organized crime and illegal arms to proliferate. Flanked by commanders of the National Guard, he underscored that the renewed presence of police and security forces marks a decisive shift from neglect to accountability.
Israeli officials argue that the arson attack near Lehavim only reinforces the necessity of Operation “New Order.” Far from signaling retreat, authorities say criminal pushback confirms that enforcement is finally disrupting entrenched networks.
For Israel, the message is consistent with its broader security doctrine: governance, deterrence, and the rule of law are non-negotiable. Restoring order in the Negev is not about collective punishment or rhetoric—it is about protecting civilians, Jewish and Bedouin alike, and ensuring that no area remains beyond the reach of the state.
