At Site of Ramle Blast, Ben Gvir Blames AG for Crime Wave, Advocates Use of Administrative Detention

Gvir calls for tougher stance on crime, says AG is 'paralyzing' police

Politicians from across the political spectrum condemn attack, offer condolences to victims' families

At the scene of a deadly explosion in the central Israeli city of Ramle, far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir on Monday blamed Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara for the country's rising crime wave. Ben Gvir, a member of the Knesset and leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, said that Baharav-Miara was "paralyzing" the police by preventing them from using administrative detention against suspected criminals. "The police's hands are tied," Ben Gvir said. "They can't arrest criminals because the attorney general won't let them." Ben Gvir's comments came after a powerful explosion ripped through a crowded market in Ramle on Sunday, killing one person and injuring 14 others. The blast, which occurred near a bus stop and several shops, was the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Israel in recent months. In the wake of the attack, politicians from across the political spectrum condemned the violence and offered condolences to the victims' families. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the bombing a "heinous act of terror" and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. "We will not rest until we find those responsible for this cowardly attack and bring them to justice," Netanyahu said. President Isaac Herzog also condemned the attack, saying that it was a "senseless act of violence." "My heart goes out to the victims and their families," Herzog said. "I want to assure them that we will do everything in our power to bring the perpetrators to justice." The bombing in Ramle is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Israel in recent months. In March, four people were killed in a shooting attack in the southern city of Beersheba. In April, a Palestinian terrorist killed two Israelis in a stabbing attack in the central city of Hadera. The rising violence has led to calls for tougher action against crime. Ben Gvir has been a vocal critic of the government's handling of the crime wave, and he has called for the use of administrative detention against suspected criminals. Administrative detention is a controversial practice that allows the government to detain individuals without charge for up to six months. Critics of administrative detention say that it is a violation of due process and that it can lead to arbitrary arrests. Supporters of administrative detention argue that it is a necessary tool for fighting crime, and they say that it can be used to prevent terrorist attacks. The debate over administrative detention is likely to continue in the wake of the Ramle bombing. Ben Gvir's comments on Monday are sure to fuel the debate, and it remains to be seen whether the government will adopt a tougher stance on crime.