Naftali Bennett Vows to Crack Down on Arab Crime Syndicates If Elected Prime Minister

Naftali Bennett, chairman of the "Together" party, has pledged to intensify the fight against organized crime in Israel's Arab community if he becomes prime minister. Speaking ahead of a podcast interview to be released on Friday by ynet's "120 and One," Bennett directly named three major crime organizations, Hariri, Abu Latif, and Jarushi, and warned that he will become their "worst nightmare." He criticized the current government under Netanyahu for lacking the courage to confront these groups and vowed to restore law and order by dismantling their operations.

Bennett also reflected on his political standing, addressing recent polls and asserting that the October 7 massacre would likely not have occurred if he were prime minister. He revealed that in spring 2021, Netanyahu promised him the leadership of the Likud party if he refrained from forming a coalition with Ra'am and Mansour Abbas. The full interview is scheduled for release on Friday.

This statement comes amid a record number of murders in the Arab sector during Netanyahu's government, highlighting ongoing concerns about crime and governance in Israel's Arab communities. Bennett's remarks signal a continuation and escalation of the anti-crime policies initiated during his previous tenure as prime minister.