National Security Under Itamar Ben-Gvir: A Mixed Performance Review
A data-driven assessment of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's tenure reveals a mixed record, according to a report by HaMishroqit's "Traffic Light" index. The index evaluates ministerial performance based on three key parameters, with a red light indicating deterioration in most areas, yellow for mixed results, and green for improvement.
Regarding personal security, the report indicates a decline in citizens' sense of safety since 2020, with a sharp drop during Ben-Gvir's first year in office and a historical low the following year. While data improved slightly in 2025, it remains below pre-Ben-Gvir levels. This trend is partly attributed to an increase in victims of crime (excluding murder), rising from 15% in 2022 to 17.5% in 2023, before a slight decrease. Ben-Gvir has frequently cited a consistent drop in car thefts under his leadership, though the Israel Police declined to provide specific data, citing the need for a formal freedom of information request.
In contrast, Ben-Gvir's tenure has seen significant expansion in civilian security measures. The number of emergency readiness squads has surged from 54 before the war to over a thousand currently. The number of licensed gun owners has more than doubled, from approximately 155,000 at the end of 2022 to 351,000 today. New legislation has also been enacted, including laws on protection rackets, empowering police to issue orders against crime organization members, and allowing police to seize cameras to prevent evidence tampering.
The police force has also seen growth under Ben-Gvir. After four years of stagnation or reduction, police personnel numbers began increasing annually, with over a thousand new officers joining in 2024, the first such growth since 2017. While recruitment numbers rose, the key change under Ben-Gvir was halting the increase in officers leaving the force. Significant salary increases for police officers, implemented in two phases in 2023 and 2025, are cited as a factor in retaining officers.
However, the number of murder victims has significantly increased during Ben-Gvir's term, averaging double the rate of the eight preceding years. Experts attribute this rise to the evolving nature of organized crime, particularly within Arab society, and a perceived lack of governance. While the previous government initiated measures to combat crime in Arab communities, their implementation has reportedly slowed under the current administration, with budget cuts observed in 2024 instead of increased efforts. Ben-Gvir's initiative to establish a National Guard is presented as a measure to combat serious crime, enhance governance, and prepare for nationalistic unrest.
