National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir again staged a visit to the embattled Bedouin town of Tarabin al-Sana to “strengthen” police forces on Tuesday, as they continued a days-long anti-crime raid there.

Police announced that the National Guard force in the Border Police assumed responsibility for the ongoing raid. Law enforcement continued to patrol the streets and maintained the haphazard, cinderblock checkpoints cordoning off the village.

Standing on the edge of the town, Ben Gvir gave an ad hoc pep talk to heavily armed police and Border Police forces, who have been operating in the area since Monday.

“It should be clear to everyone, if you aren’t in Tarabin [al-Sana], there is no more Giv’ot Bar, Carmit, Meitar or Nevatim,” he told police, referring to Jewish towns in the surrounding area.

He described the ongoing operation as a “war” that had yet to be won, and warned that if not nipped in the bud, crime in Bedouin society would soon spread to Jewish areas throughout the Negev.

“Film yourselves so you can show it to your grandchildren, another 20, 30, 40 years from now. We fought here for our home,” he said. “This is not a war that we can finish in one day… There are ups and downs.”

The developments come as violent crime has surged to record heights during Ben Gvir’s three years as national security minister, with the issue downplayed by the ultranationalist minister until recently.

As of Tuesday evening, police carried out a total of 24 arrests in the town, including four minors on suspicion of throwing stones. Officers handed out 87........

© The Times of Israel