Israel Warned of Crime Groups Becoming Security Threat Post-Oct. 7

Roi Kahlon, Director of the Staff to Combat Crime in the Arab Sector in the Prime Minister's Office, has issued a stark warning that organized crime groups in Israel are accumulating weaponry and power that could evolve into a national security threat. Speaking at the President's Residence, Kahlon drew parallels to the intelligence failures preceding the October 7th Hamas attacks, emphasizing that the state cannot solely focus on current intentions but must act proactively against the growing capabilities of these groups.

Kahlon highlighted that over recent years, crime organizations have amassed not only wealth and influence but also military-grade weaponry, including LAW rockets, MAG machine guns, explosive drones, and other advanced armaments. He argued that while current conflicts among these groups revolve around money, territory, and revenge, the underlying criminal motives do not preclude these acquired capabilities from being redirected towards security threats in the future.

He cautioned against a scenario similar to the lead-up to October 7th, where intelligence was aware of Hamas's military buildup but underestimated its intentions and capabilities. Kahlon fears a similar complacency regarding crime syndicates, stating, "Intent can change overnight, but capability is built over years." He described a potential future threat where armed groups within Israel could exploit a wider conflict, using heavy weaponry, disrupting transportation, and attacking infrastructure, potentially even being co-opted by external enemies.

To counter this, Kahlon advocates for a paradigm shift in how crime organizations are addressed. Instead of merely reacting to crimes, he calls for preemptive action during the armament phase, including dismantling armed infrastructure, cutting off funding, and preventing the accumulation of dangerous capabilities. He also proposed considering lethal crime organizations as terrorist groups to grant law enforcement additional legal and operational tools. Kahlon further criticized the justice system, which he believes hinders police work and benefits criminals in the Arab sector.