Israeli Police Chief Denies Alleged Comments on Crime in Arab Society, Condemns Reporter

The Israeli Police issued a strong statement on Sunday rejecting a report by ynet journalist Hassan Shalaan, which attributed controversial remarks to Police Commissioner Major General Danni Levy regarding crime in the Arab community. The article cited quotes from a sensitive emergency meeting Levy held with district commanders, suggesting he downplayed the significance of murders and questioned the effectiveness of weapon seizures in reducing shootings and killings.

The police firmly denied these claims, calling them a "complete distortion" of Levy's words. They emphasized that Levy considers combating crime and violence in the Arab society a top national priority, regularly raising the issue in discussions and closely monitoring efforts to address it. The statement also highlighted Levy's calls to restore police powers and tools that were previously reduced, to better tackle organized crime.

Furthermore, the police praised their officers' dedicated work against crime in all communities, including the Arab sector. They noted that the journalist was invited multiple times to observe police operations firsthand but chose instead to continue publishing biased reports that do not contribute positively to the fight against crime or to the Arab community.