Gunfire Erupts During Speech by Former Israeli Deputy Minister in Rahat

Yoav Segalovich, the former Deputy Minister of Public Security and currently the second-ranked candidate on the Ra'am party list for the Knesset, had his speech interrupted by gunfire while addressing residents in Rahat on Sunday evening. The incident occurred during a community gathering, where dozens of attendees were present. Segalovich commented on the event, stating that it was "unthinkable" that such occurrences had become "almost routine" in the city. He recalled that just the previous day, gunfire had been heard for eight consecutive hours. "This must not become routine. This is a severe failure of the government, which has abandoned the personal security of its citizens," he asserted, adding that such a situation "cannot exist in a proper country." Segalovich acknowledged that immediate change would not occur, even if he were to become the Minister of Public Security, but promised "different work by the state and the government." Ra'am officially announced Segalovich's addition to their list on August 31st. The party is not seeking the National Security portfolio for him but rather a role focused on combating crime and violence. The article also highlighted a concerning trend in the Arab community, noting that since Itamar Ben-Gvir took office as Minister of National Security, the number of murder victims has reached "frightening proportions." In 2024, 282 people were murdered, and in 2025, the number rose to 295. As of early September of the current year, the average stands at 0.81 murders per day, indicating that if the trend continues, 2026 will mark the fourth consecutive year with approximately 300 murder victims.