Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday appointed the former head of the Israel Prison Service as a czar to counter violence in the Arab sector.
Violence has been ravaging the Arab communities in recent month, with local residents and some lawmakers accusing the government of not doing enough to prevent it. A shootout in the Arab town of Tamra on Monday night ended with a medical student accidentally killed, having been caught in the cross fire.
The appointment of Aharon Franco, however, caused a stir among some Arab officials due to remarks he made in 2009 while serving as Commander of the Jerusalem District Police, when he called the Arab community "ungrateful".
"I got to work with him and be impressed by his seriousness, his professionalism and his fairness. He has very rich professional experience and has relations with the Arab leaders," Netanyahu said during a press conference.
The prime minister added he will set up a special ministerial committee, which he will head, to combat the violence in the sector.
"I am personally committed to carrying out these plans, which provide an opportunity for a revolution," Netanyahu said. "The immediate plan includes collecting weapons, building police stations and setting up welfare institutions." He also labeled criminality in the Arab sector as "terrorism", adding that it should be fought accordingly.
MK Ahmad Tibi, from the predominantly-Arab Joint list, said Franco should undergo a course "in democracy and equality values."
Head of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee Muhammad Zidan said it's "incomprehensible that a police chief would say such a thing," referring to the 2009 comments.