Bar-Lev, along with his deputy minister, Yoav Segalovitz, and the Forum of Arab Council Heads, discussed various proposals on how to harness the Arab sector's leadership at municipal level to assist the ministry's drive to eradicate violence, the illegal possession of weapons, which is widespread, and serious crime in Arab towns and villages.
Since the start of 2021, at least 48 Arab-Israelis have been killed in violent incidents, according to the Abraham Initiatives, a Jewish-Arab NGO, and over 50% of violent crime in Israel affects Arab citizens, who only make up around 20% of the population.
"The Forum of Arab Council Heads yearns for an effective plan to eradicate crime in Arab communities. Deputy Minister Segalovitz and I are clear on the urgency of the matter and this is an issue at the forefront of our minds today," said Bar-Lev at the conclusion of the virtual meeting.
"Prime Minister Bennett is also interested in, and supports the promotion of such a program, and only this week we have already held two meetings to understand all the programs that have been proposed in recent years but that have never been implemented. We will select the best parts of them and put them into practice... but we will only be able to do this with the hard work, the determination and cooperation with the local leaders, but most importantly, we cannot give up."
Deputy Minister Segalovitz, a former senior police officer, explained that he believes that the state had failed to ensure individual security for all its citizens in recent years and that it is now the ministry's responsibility to correct the shortcomings and enact change. He also stressed the importance of the inclusion of the Forum of Arab Council Heads in these plans.
Following the meeting, a representative for the Forum of Arab Council Heads said that they "feel and hear that there is a new spirit and a sincere willingness to lead change."
"We leave the meeting greatly encouraged and very much hope that soon, we can put an end to the epidemic of crime and violence that ruins everything good, and destroys Arab society in Israel from within."