Israeli Government Launches Broad Plan to Combat Crime in Arab Society Across Ministries

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office is spearheading a comprehensive inter-ministerial effort to prevent organized crime groups from infiltrating government systems, particularly targeting their access to public tenders, budgets, and resources. This initiative is led by Attorney Roi Kachlon, head of the task force against crime in Arab society, in collaboration with various government ministries and law enforcement agencies. The effort is supported by international consultancy EY, Sparks company, and former senior officials from security, law enforcement, legal, and economic sectors.

A key focus is the construction and infrastructure sector, where criminal elements often attempt to integrate through companies, contractors, and tenders. One proposed measure is to revoke the registration of contractors linked to criminal groups, subject to legal procedures, effectively barring them from undertaking contracting work. This economic approach aims to disrupt the financial foundations of crime organizations beyond traditional criminal prosecution.

Other ministries are also involved, with the Interior Ministry examining ways to prevent criminal control over tenders and decision-making in local authorities and public bodies. The Culture and Sports sectors are under review for potential misuse of funds and public resources by criminal entities. The overarching principle is that every government ministry could be vulnerable to organized crime infiltration, necessitating a broad, systemic response rather than isolated actions.

This initiative aligns with preparations for the next five-year plan to combat crime, set to begin in January 2027 after the current plan concludes at the end of 2026. The strategy marks a shift from a police-centric approach to a government-wide campaign to block criminal groups from exploiting public funds and contracts as sources of power.