Government Approves Shin Bet Role in Arab Organized-Crime Fight

Israel’s government approved a plan bringing the Shin Bet into a joint campaign with police against organized crime in Arab society. The decision redirects about NIS 497 million from five-year Plan 550, allocating NIS 364.5 million for a dedicated Shin Bet unit targeting weapons smuggling and trafficking and NIS 132.4 million for a national police unit. The Shin Bet will also receive 130 additional posts and an annual NIS 35 million operating budget from 2026. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the combined intelligence, operational and technological capabilities would target crime leaders and infrastructure.