A New Strategy to Combat Crime in the Arab Sector
The Prime Minister's Office is leading a large-scale effort to counter the infiltration of criminal organizations into state systems by mobilizing all government ministries, rather than relying solely on law enforcement.
The Prime Minister's Office is currently leading a large-scale staff effort designed to counter the infiltration of criminal organizations into state systems. This initiative extends beyond the police and law enforcement, mobilizing all government ministries to address the threat.
The process is led by Adv. Roi Kahlon, head of the Staff for Combating Crime in the Arab Sector at the Prime Minister's Office, in cooperation with various government ministries. The staff work is supported by the international consulting firm EY, the company Sparks, and former senior officials from the security, judicial, and economic sectors.
The new approach is based on the systematic identification and closure of loopholes that allow criminal organizations to penetrate tenders, budgets, and state economic activities.
A central focus of this initiative is the Ministry of Construction and Housing. In the construction and infrastructure industry, specific points were identified where criminal elements attempt to integrate through companies, contractors, and tenders.
One of the tools being examined is the use of the Registrar of Contractors' powers. In cases where a contractor is identified as having ties to criminal elements, the possibility of removing them from the contractors' register—subject to a hearing procedure and within the framework of the law—is being considered. This step would effectively strip them of the ability to perform contracting work.
The Prime Minister's Office views this as a significant economic tool: instead of relying solely on criminal proceedings against specific individuals, the state can directly target the business opportunities that criminal elements exploit.
As the construction industry handles massive sums, blocking criminal organizations' foothold in this sector could cause significant damage to their revenue streams.
Work is being carried out in parallel with other ministries, with relevant vulnerabilities being examined for each. In the Ministry of Interior, for instance, ways to deal with attempts to hijack tenders and influence decision-making processes in local authorities and public bodies are being reviewed. Similarly, in the fields of culture and sports, potential budget leaks and the exploitation of public resources are being monitored.
The guiding principle is that every government ministry could be a target for organized crime, necessitating a broad, comprehensive perspective rather than point-by-point treatment.
This move is integrated into preparations for the next five-year plan. The current plan is expected to conclude at the end of 2026, with the new program scheduled to launch in January 2027.
In short, the war on organized crime is moving beyond the police and entering every government ministry where money, tenders, or public resources could become a source of power for criminal organizations.
