Ben Gvir Confronted by Stone-Throwing Protesters During Visit to Negev Bedouin Village
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir came under attack from stone-throwing demonstrators on Sunday while touring the Bedouin village of Tarabin al-Sana, as tensions flared following a wave of police activity in the area.
According to police, unrest had already begun before the minister’s arrival. Young residents hurled stones at officers, prompting police to respond with tear gas. Two suspects were arrested during the clashes, law enforcement officials told The Times of Israel.
Ben Gvir arrived at the village accompanied by Israel Police chief Danny Levy, Southern District commander Haim Boublil, and large contingents of police officers, moving through the area under heavy security.
“These criminals thought that they would send me a message, that they would do a ‘price tag,’” Ben Gvir said while walking with his security detail, using a term commonly associated with retaliatory settler violence.
Footage aired by Channel 12 showed police scuffling with local residents as Ben Gvir spoke with a man dressed in Arab clothing nearby. Despite the confrontation, the minister told reporters that he was undeterred and pledged to continue visiting the village.
In an official statement, Ben Gvir accused Bedouin communities of operating without effective law enforcement. He said the towns had “gotten used to there being no police and no rule of law,” adding that “everyone does as he pleases.”
“That is over. Finally there is a police force here that functions and responds,” he said.
The visit followed police operations over Shabbos, during which officers arrested three Tarabin al-Sana residents suspected of torching and vandalizing vehicles in nearby Jewish communities. Police said the acts were carried out as “revenge” for an earlier overnight raid in the village.
Over the past month, police have intensified their presence across the Negev as part of an initiative aimed at curbing violent crime, weapons trafficking, and traffic violations. The campaign, known as New Order, has included repeated raids in Bedouin localities.
Bedouin leaders and residents have strongly criticized the operation, accusing Ben Gvir of undermining their rights as Israeli citizens. They dispute his claims of improved policing, arguing instead that their communities lack a steady police presence.
Residents say that rather than routine law enforcement, they experience surprise, military-style raids involving counterterror units and Border Police, along with checkpoints at town entrances that affect ordinary civilians as well as criminals.
Ben Gvir, for his part, praised the concrete barriers police have placed at entrances to several Bedouin towns, rejecting accusations of collective punishment.
“This is the State of Israel. Period. Those who don’t like it, fantastic — they can go drink the water in Gaza,” he said.
A Tarabin al-Sana resident identified as Alaa told Ynet that villagers were being unfairly blamed. “It makes no sense to blame us [residents] for everything that goes on in the village,” he said.
“I blame Ben Gvir for this situation. You want to catch criminals? Go in and arrest them. What are these checkpoints for? Where are we, in the territories?” he added, referring to the West Bank.
Addressing the alleged retaliatory vandalism in the nearby Jewish towns of Giv’ot Bar and Mishmar Hanegev, Alaa told Ynet that he maintains friendships in Giv’ot Bar and condemned the attacks.
{Matzav.com}
