Against the backdrop of the lessons of October 7: the fear of organized crime becoming a security threat

The head of the War on Crime in the Arab Sector staff, attorney Royi Kahlon, spoke at the President's Residence and warned that organized crime groups are amassing military-grade weapons that could become a security threat. Kahlon calls for action during the buildup phase and not to wait for crime to become a threat, drawing a comparison to the concept that preceded October 7.

The head of the War on Crime in the Arab Sector staff at the Prime Minister's Office, attorney Royi Kahlon, spoke last night (Tuesday) at the President's Residence and presented his security outlook regarding Arab organized crime groups. Kahlon warned that these groups are amassing not only money and influence but also military-grade weapons, including LAU rockets, MAG machine guns, Claymore mines, and explosive drones. According to him, the state cannot settle for examining the groups' current intentions, as intentions can change overnight, while military capability is built over years. Kahlon compared the danger to the concept that preceded October 7, when the security establishment knew Hamas was arming itself but did not assess the threat in its full severity. In the extreme scenario he described, during a broad war, armed power centers within Israel could exploit the overload and chaos to block routes, damage infrastructure, and fire within residential areas. Kahlon calls for a conceptual change: to act during the buildup phase, dismantle armed infrastructures, dry up funding sources, and even treat murderous crime organizations as terrorist organizations. He criticized the legal system, which he says hinders police work.

Against the backdrop of the lessons of October 7: the fear of organized crime becoming a security threat