Shin Bet Chief Warns of Unprecedented Terrorist Organizations Among Negev Bedouins

The head of the Shin Bet alerted the political-security cabinet on Monday to unprecedented terrorist organizational efforts within the Bedouin population in the Negev. The Head of the Shin Bet described to cabinet members that security forces are identifying attempts to establish military-style infrastructure within Israel. "There are places in the Bedouin diaspora with military infrastructure that we are constantly thwarting, attempts to establish military-like battalions, this is a very worrying phenomenon," he stated.

This unusual warning comes amid a consistent two-year rise in the involvement of Israeli citizens from the Bedouin community in terror incidents, arms smuggling across the Egyptian border, and connections with terror elements in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip. The Shin Bet and police attribute this to the widespread flow of illegal weapons into the Negev, coupled with nationalist and religious radicalization, creating fertile ground for local armed groups.

Security officials point to several key trends fueling the phenomenon. Arms smuggling has turned the Negev into a hub for acquiring standard weapons, including assault rifles, explosives, and night vision devices. Additionally, the line between criminal and nationalist activity is blurring, with some criminal organizations evolving into radicalized groups targeting attacks. Propaganda from Hamas and ISIS on social media also encourages young people from the Bedouin community to form local cells and emulate terror group tactics.

The Shin Bet, police, and IDF are continuing targeted counter-terrorism efforts in the Bedouin community, including night arrests, weapons seizures, and advanced intelligence tools to disrupt the formation of these "battalions" in their early stages. Recently, during an event in Rahat attended by retired Police Commissioner Yoav Segalovitz, gunfire erupted nearby due to a clan dispute. Segalovitz described the incident as "almost routine" and a "severe failure of the government" in ensuring personal security.

Ofer Winter, head of the 'Am Israel' Party, called the Shin Bet chief's warning a "bright red flag" for the government, questioning the Prime Minister and Interior Minister's response to the alleged formation of armed militias. He criticized the failure to collect illegal weapons in the Arab sector, urging decisive action.

However, leaders within the Bedouin community have reacted with anger and disbelief. Habbas Al-Atouna, head of the Hura Local Council, dismissed the claims as politically motivated due to the upcoming elections, stating that the vast majority of Bedouins are law-abiding citizens and that any criminal activity is by a small, neglected minority, not terrorism. Ahmed, a resident of Rahat, expressed frustration that security officials are not helping to calm tensions and accused the security establishment of failing to address illegal weapons for years. He emphasized the need for recognition of Bedouin villages and better living conditions, condemning any criminal or nationalist organization.

The Council of Unrecognized Villages also decried the Shin Bet chief's remarks as politically motivated, accusing him of turning the Shin Bet into a branch of the Likud party for electoral gain and calling the claims baseless propaganda aimed at inciting hatred against Arabs.