Beersheba Mayor Warns of Armed Groups After Shin Bet Chief's Alert
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich is sounding the alarm about armed groups forming in the Negev, echoing concerns raised by Shin Bet chief David Zini. Danilovich warns of potential dormant cells and smuggled weapons, criticizing the government's lack of a coordinated national plan. He stresses that these criminal elements are damaging inter-community relations, despite the desire of many Bedouins to live peacefully in Israel.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich warns of armed groups with military characteristics in the Negev.
- Shin Bet chief David Zini alerted the cabinet to attempts to establish these groups.
- Danilovich criticizes the government for lacking a comprehensive, coordinated national plan.
- He highlights concerns over smuggled heavy weapons and potential dormant cells.
- The mayor states these groups harm inter-community relations between Jews and Bedouins.
Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich has reiterated his long-standing warnings about crime and illegal weapons in the Negev region, now amplified by recent intelligence indicating attempts to establish armed groups with military characteristics within the Bedouin population. Danilovich cited remarks by Shin Bet chief David Zini to the cabinet, who alerted them to these efforts. The mayor, who has previously called for the Shin Bet's involvement in combating militias, expressed concern over heavy weapons being smuggled via drones and the potential for dormant cells to emerge.
Danilovich criticized the lack of a comprehensive national plan and coordination to address the escalating security situation. He highlighted that despite his years of alerting security officials, police, prosecutors, and government leaders, the problem persists. He plans to meet with the incoming Shin Bet chief to brief him on the realities on the ground.
He pointed to a recent incident in July where four Negev residents were suspected of planning an attack on Beersheba's central bus station as evidence of the threat. Danilovich stated that while Beersheba's security patrol, funded by residents, has prevented crime, it cannot substitute for a coordinated national strategy.
Danilovich called for clear objectives and accountability under the Prime Minister's Office for combating these threats, drawing a parallel to the focused operations in Gaza. He emphasized that these criminal elements, which he described as having nationalistic characteristics, not only harm personal security but also damage relations between Jews and Bedouins in the Negev, despite the desire of many Bedouins to coexist peacefully in Israel.
