Yair Golan unveils NIS 1b. plan to fight crime in Arab society
Golan said the fight against organized crime requires economic pressure, special courts, and efforts to cut off funding to criminal groups.
Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats Party, unveiled a plan on Monday to combat organized crime in Arab society. The plan includes a national state of emergency, a special task force, and an annual budget of NIS 1 billion. During a press conference in Nazareth, Golan described his proposal as a "root treatment" to the issue.
The plan involves declaring a national state of emergency and forming a dedicated task force to coordinate Israel's law enforcement agencies. Golan also pledged to shorten judicial proceedings, establish dedicated courts for serious crimes, and launch an economic campaign to cut off criminal organizations' funding sources and prevent companies linked to them from receiving public tenders.
Additionally, Golan introduced "Team 49," an interministerial body composed of representatives from education, welfare, law enforcement, and rehabilitation systems. The team aims to identify and rescue at-risk youth from criminal organizations. The name "Team 49" honors the 49 children and minors murdered in recent years.
Golan directly addressed Arab citizens and bereaved families, apologizing for the government's abandonment and urging forgiveness. He criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, asserting that the increase in crime is not an inevitable or cultural issue but a result of the government's failure. Golan emphasized that crime in Arab society is a threat to Israeli society as a whole and demanded the National Security Ministry portfolio for his party.
MK Naama Lazimi, a member of Golan's party, presented a stark assessment of Arab society's political and social future. She criticized discriminatory government policies and stressed that Arab society must be an integral part of a cohesive and democratic Israel. MK Gilad Kariv also criticized Netanyahu's government, accusing it of abandoning Arab society for years and turning Arab citizens into political enemies.
Both Lazimi and Kariv called for Jewish-Arab cooperation in combating crime. Parents of murdered children, including Dr. Ashraf Sapia, addressed the conference, expressing their frustration and demanding accountability from those who have failed to protect them.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
