Minister Ben-Gvir's Aide Claims Prison Conditions Tightened, Arab Crime Persists

Ezra Mor, head of the Russian-speaking staff for Otzma Yehudit, stated in an interview that Israeli prisons have seen stricter conditions under National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, while crime in the Arab sector remains a significant challenge. Mor highlighted that prisoners have lost certain privileges, such as baking their own pita bread, which he described as a reduction in their autonomy and a "breath of freedom." He also asserted that terrorist organizations no longer have the same level of freedom within prisons. Ben-Gvir himself had previously announced in the Knesset in 2023 the closure of prison bakeries for security prisoners and other restrictions.

Mor identified the reluctance of Arab sector residents to cooperate with law enforcement and testify in criminal cases as a major obstacle. He also linked some conflicts to inter-family disputes over financial resources and noted the Shin Bet's involvement in combating organized crime. Statistics presented to the Knesset in 2025 indicate the severity of the issue, with 241 out of 309 murder victims in Israel belonging to the Arab sector, compared to 47 from the Jewish sector.

The ongoing violence in the Arab community is a subject of public and political debate. In May 2026, State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman announced a special review of the authorities' efforts against crime in the Arab sector. In July, President Isaac Herzog described the situation as an emergency and called for increased Shin Bet involvement.