Government formalizes NIS 500 million Shin Bet budget for combating Arab crime

The Israeli government is moving to integrate the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) more deeply into the domestic fight against violent crime in Arab communities. According to Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs, the agency will receive NIS 500 million in dedicated funding, bringing the total combined budget for the Shin Bet and the Israel Police for this mission to NIS 567 million. ### Budgetary Shift and Political Context The funding will be sourced by redirecting assets from 'Plan 550,' a multi-year development program for the Arab sector initiated by the previous government. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Minister for Social Equality May Golan, who led the push for this allocation, characterized the move as a necessary correction. Minister Golan claimed that funds from the original plan had previously flowed to crime organizations due to a lack of oversight, a situation she stated this new allocation aims to rectify. ### Operational Expansion This decision marks a significant shift in the Shin Bet's domestic mandate, which has traditionally focused on counter-terrorism and state security. Minister Ben Gvir noted that while previous leadership within the agency had resisted such involvement, the current leadership is prepared to take on the mission. However, reports from the Shin Bet suggest that the exact structure of the new department tasked with this mission has not yet been finalized, and its full implementation will take time. ### Outlook and National Security The move reflects a growing consensus on the need for advanced intelligence capabilities to dismantle powerful crime organizations that have led to unprecedented murder rates in the Arab sector. While the government views this as a vital step for national security, the implementation will be closely monitored to see how the Shin Bet balances its new criminal-focused duties with its core counter-terrorism missions.