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Masked men invaded the southern Israeli community of Givaot Bar late Friday night, smashing car windows and attempting to set several vehicles on fire, residents and police confirmed. The attackers reportedly entered the settlement after cutting through a section of the perimeter security fence, causing panic among residents and prompting an immediate police response.
A local resident told Walla news that the group moved quickly through residential streets, targeting parked cars before fleeing the scene. No injuries were reported, but several vehicles sustained heavy damage. Police launched an investigation, collecting evidence and reviewing security footage from the area to identify those responsible.
According to Israel Police, the incident occurred shortly after a large-scale law enforcement operation in the nearby Bedouin settlement of Tarabin a-Tsana. Investigators suspect the vandalism may have been an act of revenge linked to anger over the police activity, though officials stressed that the motive has not yet been conclusively established.
The attack comes amid an intensified police campaign in the Negev aimed at curbing violent crime and illegal weapons in Bedouin communities. Earlier this month, police released summary data from the first month of the Southern District operation, describing it as a significant success in restoring deterrence and public order.
Police statistics indicate a reported 93 percent decrease in shooting incidents across the Bedouin diaspora since the operation began. During that period, officers seized dozens of military-grade weapons, including assault rifles, as well as ammunition and other illegal arms believed to fuel organized crime and clan disputes in the region.
Over the past month alone, security forces confiscated 70 stolen military weapons, an RPG rocket, and more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition. Authorities also seized 42 kilograms of various drugs, carried out extensive traffic enforcement, issued 2,150 reports, and removed over 200 vehicles deemed unsafe or illegally operated.
So far, prosecutors have filed 67 indictments for weapons possession, use of firearms, and violent offenses. Police officials say these cases represent only an initial phase, as investigations continue into wider criminal networks operating across the Negev.
The scale of the operation has been unprecedented. Nearly 7,945 police officers and fighters from multiple units took part, including the elite Yoav Unit, Border Police, Naval Forces, and Unit 33. The effort was supported by advanced technology, including 23 drones, as well as mounted units and police dogs.
Despite the reported achievements, the operation has sparked sharp criticism from Bedouin sector leaders. Community representatives accuse authorities of allowing political considerations to influence police work, arguing that aggressive tactics deepen mistrust and fail to address underlying social and economic problems.
At the same time, heads of Jewish local authorities in the Negev are demanding a broader, government-led plan to ensure long-term security. They argue that while police enforcement is necessary, it must be accompanied by infrastructure investment, education, and sustained state presence.
Police acknowledge that the challenge remains immense. Estimates suggest there are still around 150,000 illegal weapons circulating throughout the Negev, some stolen from Israel Defense Forces bases and assembly areas over the past two years. As investigations into the Givaot Bar attack continue, the incident underscores the fragile security reality in the region and the deep tensions surrounding efforts to restore law and order.