Former PM Bennett Visits Negev, Calls Illegal Arms Smuggling a National Security Threat

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited the Negev region, specifically the community of Karmit, following recent gunfire incidents from nearby Bedouin villages. Bennett addressed the ongoing issue of illegal arms smuggling in southern Israel, proposing a plan to combat the problem by deploying soldiers within Israeli communities to act against illegal weapons. He suggested designating neighborhoods or homes suspected of involvement in arms trafficking as closed police-security zones based on intelligence from the Shin Bet or Military Intelligence.

Bennett declared that under his leadership, illegal arms smuggling would be classified as terrorism and handled with full involvement of the Shin Bet, despite the agency already operating in this area. He warned that hundreds of thousands of illegal weapons threaten Israeli civilians and criticized the current government for treating the issue as a criminal matter rather than a national security threat. He highlighted that about 80% of smuggling attempts use heavy payload drones, most of which are not intercepted due to insufficient military resources.

He emphasized Israel’s capability to control Tehran’s airspace and insisted the country must also secure its own borders to eliminate illegal weapons. Bennett proposed establishing a joint operations center involving the IDF, Shin Bet, Israeli Police, and tax authorities to impose strict security detention on smugglers.

During his visit, Bennett also stayed overnight at Kibbutz Nahal Oz in the Gaza border area, meeting with local security officials and residents. He listened to their concerns about Hamas’s growing strength and the failures of the current government’s policies, particularly the lack of a state inquiry following the October 7 attacks. Bennett expressed full agreement with the kibbutz’s stance that terrorist organizations must be eliminated immediately to prevent future threats.

Residents praised Bennett for his direct engagement and willingness to listen without intermediaries. A kibbutz member noted Bennett’s genuine interest in experiencing life in the border communities and his commitment to prioritizing security if he returns to power. The visit underscored the urgency of addressing security challenges in southern Israel ahead of upcoming elections.