Exclusive: Shin Bet Chief Warns Of Militarization Of Bedouin In The Negev

Shin Bet chief David Zini has warned the Israeli cabinet about the alleged militarization of Bedouin communities in the Negev. Security officials and NGOs claim that illegal weapons smuggling and radicalization are creating a significant internal security threat.
Why it matters
The report highlights growing internal security tensions in Israel, potentially impacting government policy toward minority sectors and border control.
i24NEWS' Hebrew channel Knesset correspondent, Amiel Yarchi, revealed Tuesday evening, that Shin Bet chief David Zini’s warning about the increased militarization of Bedouins in the Negev.
"There are places in the Bedouin diaspora with military infrastructures where we are constantly thwarting attempts to establish military battalions, a very worrying phenomenon," Zini told the cabinet during a meeting on threats from Gaza and the West Bank.
The warning comes alongside discussions on the strengthening of Hamas in Gaza and a general discussion about terror activities in the West Bank.
"The Shin Bet chief's warning regarding attempts to establish military cells in the Bedouin diaspora should serve as a glaring red flag for the Israeli government and the security establishment," Ofer Winter, chairman of Amcha Israel, said.
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