Singer and creator Idan Raichel today (Tuesday) attacked the loss of governance in the Negev and its transformation into a “Wild West” controlled by the Bedouin.
Idan Raichel: “Once, twice a week, I take the car, and drive back and forth to Eilat. I prefer a car, over the flights. Twice in the last year – I was forced to go to the side of the road, by Bedouin, violent, threatening drivers.
Twice I also started driving very fast, running away from them, because I was in the feeling that in a moment I would be left without a car and with nothing – (in good condition). The feeling of helplessness, when you are subjected to the whims of outlaws, is horrible. The lack of control over your life in those moments, the quick response of the police that still only allows them to track your location, but because of the huge distances does not allow them to send a mobile to any point in a fast time – all these leave you lost, in your country. On the way to freedom, a trip, a show or a job.
These times you feel like the Negev is really a wild west. In complete control of the arbitrariness of the hearts of Bedouin criminals. Or just bullies.
The struggle for the return of control, law and order in the Negev is not a political tool, not some label or issue that needs to be debated, and it is certainly not a matter of right and left, nor is it “a personal struggle of Itamar Ben Gvir.”
I would be happy for us all to live in peace, but if anyone is already worried – then not law-abiding citizens. In the United States, when a police officer stops you, you tremble.
You can make an order. You used to be afraid to get off the New York subway at almost any time of the day. After the mayor gave the cops there to do the work, and backed them up – much safer there. Immediately restore control, law, and order to the roads of the south. “(Photo: Archive)