Far right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir boycotts a meeting on combating crime in Arab society convened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, drawing criticism. Ben Gvir's ministry officials declined to attend the meeting after Maj.-Gen. Yoram Sofer was uninvited, despite Ben-Gvir's refusal to speak to Sofer for the past year. Netanyahu expressed his disregard for the boycotts and stated that they will be dealt with separately. Crime in the Arab community has been on the rise, with more homicides in 2023 than any previous year.