Israeli Crime Chief Urges Legal Shift to Combat Arab Sector Violence as Terrorism

Roi Kahlon, head of the Israeli government’s task force against crime in the Arab sector, sharply criticized Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara for her refusal to classify criminal organizations in the Arab community as terrorist groups. This stance, he argues, hinders the use of effective legal and operational tools to combat the recent deadly wave of violence that claimed five lives across four locations in Israel within hours.

Kahlon revealed that he had warned Baharav-Miara months ago, submitting his fifth formal request in February demanding a paradigm shift. He called for an immediate declaration of an enforcement emergency and the designation of these criminal groups as terrorist organizations, emphasizing that the current policy directly threatens national security.

Despite these warnings, Kahlon expressed frustration that no adequate response has been received. He described the ongoing violence as "criminal terror in every respect" and stressed the need to abandon outdated legal concepts that treat these groups as ordinary criminals. According to Kahlon, only by redefining them as terrorist entities can Israel fully deploy its legal, intelligence, and operational arsenal to restore deterrence and protect citizens.

His comments come amid a surge in lethal attacks within the Arab sector, highlighting the urgency of addressing organized crime as a national security issue rather than solely a criminal matter. Kahlon’s call underscores a growing debate over how Israeli authorities should confront the intertwining of crime and terrorism in minority communities.