Retired Deputy Police Commissioner and former Yamam commander Zohar Dvir warned in an interview with Channel 7, during a security conference at the Lev Academic Center, that a renewed outbreak like the 2021 “Guardian of the Walls” violence is inevitable unless Israel prepares broadly. He said internal security threats are worsening alongside terrorism, citing social fragmentation, protests, public disorder, fake news on social media, and a rising wave of violence.
Dvir said Israeli society is in a “very bad” position when compared year to year, especially in terms of violence in the Jewish and Arab sectors. He argued that the Israel Police is active on many fronts and is making major efforts, but its tasks exceed its available resources. Fighting crime and violence, he said, requires a significant strengthening of the police and broader enforcement agencies.
Addressing protection rackets and organized crime, Dvir rejected claims that the recent escalation stems from tougher enforcement. He said police are working “in all arenas” and called organized crime a “national plague” that requires more investigators and enforcement capacity. He also backed the National Guard as an important step, but said Israel needs a wider readiness effort. He supported expanding the number of armed civilians, while warning that issuing permits to people who do not meet the criteria or lack sufficient skill “can be more harmful than beneficial.”
Dvir also called for returning technological tools to the police, saying criminal organizations continue to evolve while police operate at a tactical disadvantage, even as oversight and checks remain necessary. He praised Yamam as an elite unit with international-level capabilities, working closely with the Shin Bet and other police units. Referring to the October 7 attack, he said police and Yamam were among the first responders, and noted that dozens of officers were killed while confronting attackers and shielding civilians. He added that he still visits the unit regularly and remains in contact with its fighters, though the younger generation now carries the responsibility.
