Israel's police chief cites failure of leadership in Arab sector

TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Israel's police commander says the nation's Arab minority is undergoing a process of radicalization.

Police Inspector General Yehuda Wilk said Arab leaders are refusing to confront the phenomenon and tolerate or even encourage extremism against the Jewish state.

"We are unfortunately witnessing a difficult trend in the Arab sector," Wilk said. "I want to distinguish between the extremist fringe and the Arab population. I would want to hear the voice of the Arab leadership when the flag of the state is burned. I didn't hear this voice."

Wilk's assertion echoed that of a senior police commander last week who warned against rising Arab extremism. Leading politicians also expressed concern that Israeli Arabs are increasingly identifying with Palestinian and Lebanese guerrillas who battle Israel as Arab parliamentarians curry favor with extremists.

"I see an unprecedented deterioration in relations between Arabs and Jews," Haifa Mayor Amram Mitzna said. "I am very worried."

In Jerusalem, Abraham Dichter was appointed as the new head of the General Security Service, responsible for internal security. At the ceremony, President Ezer Weizman discouraged Dichter from using force when dealing with Israel's Arabs.

"One must devote a lot of thought to them, a lot of time, and no small amount of funds," Weizman said. "Some one million Arabs in this country are not in a good situation."