Israeli Minister May Golan Proposes Major Budget Shift to Combat Crime in Arab Communities

In March 2026, the Ministry for Social Equality, led by Minister May Golan, submitted an internal document proposing a significant reallocation of government funds to strengthen law enforcement against crime and violence in Arab society. The plan calls for diverting approximately 1.4 billion shekels from the government’s Decision 550 budgets to bolster anti-crime efforts, citing the failure of existing programs to curb organized crime, which is described as a serious threat to national and personal security.

The document highlights that only 53% of the allocated funds under Decision 550 were approved, with just 20% actually spent, while nearly 5 billion shekels remain unutilized across government ministries. It recommends shifting most of the 2026 budget toward a new strategic plan developed jointly by the police, Shin Bet, and the Ministry for Social Equality. This plan includes creating new police units, establishing multi-dimensional policing centers in Arab towns, preventing criminal infiltration in public tenders, expanding cybercrime enforcement, and social programs aimed at integrating young adults into employment and vocational training to reduce recruitment by criminal organizations.

However, the proposal also entails cutting about 92 million shekels from employment programs designed to prevent youth involvement in crime, such as the Rayan centers and vocational training initiatives. Social organizations warn this shift undermines prevention efforts by prioritizing enforcement over addressing root causes. Liat Brosh, CEO of the "Be’atzmi" organization, stressed that enforcement and prevention must complement each other, and cutting employment budgets risks weakening effective crime deterrence. Similarly, social workers’ union chair Inbal Harmoni criticized the move as reactive rather than strategic, emphasizing the importance of investing in youth and community resilience.

The Ministry’s office explained that Minister Golan ordered a comprehensive review of budget allocations and implementation due to classified intelligence about misuse of public funds by criminal groups. The ministry aims to establish stricter oversight and prevent the diversion of resources to crime organizations. The initiative, supported by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, includes integrating Shin Bet into the fight against crime in Arab communities to enhance security for all Israeli citizens.

Despite years of program implementation, crime rates in Arab society remain high, with shooting incidents involving Arab perpetrators at 95%, weapons offenses at 83-84%, and extortion rates unchanged. The number of murders has doubled during the program period, underscoring the urgency behind the proposed budget reallocation and strategic shift.