Ex-Omer Council Head Warns of Negev Gangs After Shin Bet Alert
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Former Omer Regional Council head Pini Badash warned of armed gangs in the Negev following Shin Bet alerts, stating the problem has persisted for 30 years. He believes a dangerous minority of Bedouin residents poses a strategic threat and criticized the police, judicial system, and educational shortcomings. Badash recalled past decisive action under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and questioned the lack of current government intervention.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Pini Badash warned of armed gangs in the Negev, citing 30 years of unheeded warnings.
- Shin Bet head David Zini issued alerts about armed gangs in the Negev.
- Badash believes a dangerous minority of Bedouin residents poses a strategic threat.
- He criticized the police, judicial system, and educational deficiencies in the sector.
- Badash recalled decisive action under former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
- He met with Naftali Bennett regarding the issue.
Pini Badash, former head of the Omer Regional Council, has issued a stark warning regarding armed gangs in the Negev, following recent alerts from Shin Bet head David Zini. Badash stated that he has been raising this issue for 30 years, comparing himself to Cato the Elder, and that the problem escalated significantly during Operation Guardian of the Walls. He believes that while most Bedouin residents in the Negev are law-abiding, a dangerous minority poses a strategic threat, potentially numbering in the tens of thousands.
Badash recounted a pre-Operation Guardian of the Walls incident where he warned military officials that all access routes were compromised and that the "barrels would turn against us," which he claims subsequently happened. He advocates for a comprehensive solution to the security situation.
He expressed surprise at the police's apparent lack of awareness regarding the Shin Bet's intelligence, suggesting a disconnect. Badash highlighted the ease of acquiring firearms, noting that purchasing a handgun on the black market is cheaper than from a licensed dealer and that M16 rifles are available for rent. He dismissed the proposed National Guard as insufficient.
Citing a lack of governance and enforcement, Badash rejected claims of insufficient prison capacity, pointing to the empty Ketziot Prison as a viable option for incarceration. He also criticized the leniency of the judicial system, where individuals caught with stolen weapons may receive only house arrest within a day.
Badash also addressed educational deficiencies, stating that core subjects like Hebrew are barely taught in the Bedouin sector due to a lack of teachers and a reluctance to teach post-Operation Guardian of the Walls. He cited a school principal's report that only about 10% of children speak Hebrew and almost none can read it, questioning their future integration into the workforce and suggesting this path leads to organized crime.
He recalled his own efforts in the early 2000s under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who covered expenses for clearing the Tarabin area, and questioned why similar decisive action is not being taken now. Badash mentioned meeting with Naftali Bennett regarding this issue.
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