Civil Service Commissioner Urges Enforcement Emergency Amid Surge in Murders

Acting Civil Service Commissioner, Attorney Roi Kachlon, has called on Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to declare an "enforcement emergency" in light of a significant rise in murders within the Arab-Israeli community. In a letter sent on Monday evening, Kachlon expressed grave concern over the escalating violence, urging for immediate and coordinated action from law enforcement leaders to curb the wave of killings.

This marks Kachlon’s second appeal to Baharav-Miara within a month. Since his initial request, 10 additional civilians have been murdered, bringing the total to 46 fatalities in the Arab sector since the beginning of 2025. In his letter, Kachlon stressed that addressing the crisis is the sole responsibility of law enforcement and emphasized the urgent need for decisive intervention.

"Murders are occurring almost daily. The government or its representatives lack enforcement powers that would enable them to halt the wave of murders and dismantle rampant criminal organizations. Only law enforcement has the ability—and the duty—to act, and time is of the essence," Kachlon stated.

Kachlon also urged for weekly mandatory meetings among law enforcement leaders to develop a swift, operational response. He emphasized that this is not a theoretical discussion but one of immediate urgency. Beyond the emergency measures, Kachlon called for a comprehensive long-term strategy to address the root causes of violence. He criticized previous legislative amendments and routine prosecutorial actions as insufficient and called for a strategic plan to set measurable, clear goals, with the dismantling of criminal organizations at its core.

The plan should involve collective efforts from key agencies, including the Israel Police, the Tax Authority, the State Prosecutor’s Office, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, according to Kachlon. These agencies must join forces to dismantle the criminal networks responsible for the surge in violence.

Kachlon referenced "Operation Cities," an initiative led by the National Task Force for Combating Crime in the Arab Community, coordinated with the Israel Police. While acknowledging its importance, he asserted that it is insufficient to address the full scope of the problem. He reiterated that declaring an enforcement emergency with clear and immediate operational consequences is necessary to effectively tackle the growing criminal threat.