BySARAH BEN-NUN, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Updated:

A bill to designate crime syndicates as terrorist organizations passed in the Ministerial Committee on Legislation on Monday. 

The bill, proposed by National Security Committee chair MK Zvika Fogel (Otzma Yehudit), would create the option to declare a criminal organization as a “terrorist” one - in cases where its actions “cross the threshold of organized criminal activity into the realm of subversion against, or as presenting a security threat to, state institutions and elected officials,” per an announcement from Fogel's office.

The bill stipulates that the national security minister, with approval from the defense minister, could, through an issued order, make such a move against a criminal group.

In a rare announcement regarding the advancement of bills in the parliament, the Prime Minister's Office said on Sunday that the Ministerial Committee on Legislation supported advancing the bill.

It added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu completed the motion to recommend Roi Kachlon as the head of the Special Committee for Combating Crime in the Arab Sector. 

An Arab Israeli protester breaks the window of a passing car during a protest against a wave of violence in their communities, where they say police have turned a blind eye to crime, in northern town of Umm el Fahm, Israel March 12, 2021.
An Arab Israeli protester breaks the window of a passing car during a protest against a wave of violence in their communities, where they say police have turned a blind eye to crime, in northern town of Umm el Fahm, Israel March 12, 2021. (credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)

“We will utilize every measure in order to stop the raging crime,” Netanyahu said.

Rise in crime in the Arab sector

The Arab sector has been seeing a consistent and still-unprecedented level of rising crime rates - and victims of criminal violence. 

Per stats from the Abraham Initiatives, a co-existence NGO that tracks this trend, 208 people have been killed from criminal scuffles and targeted shootings since January, standing at a 11% increase rate from this time last year.

The faults are twofold: on the Arab sector itself, but also on Israel Police for failing to crack down on the criminal organizations. The rate of victims started to rise in 2022, when National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) took over the role. They have been at a steady rise ever since. 

Keshet Neev contributed to this report.