“We are working to significantly increase the enlistment of Muslims in the police force,” Alsheich said at a ceremony in Nazareth, adding “recently we have been carrying out intensive work to strengthen police services and law enforcement and deterrence in the Arab society across Israel.”

For the most part, police plans center around the opening of new police stations and posts across the Arab sector in order to raise its profile, increase the available manpower to respond to crimes and increase the feeling of personal security for locals.

A day earlier, Alsheich made waves when he said during a speech to a meeting of bereaved families that “it’s impossible to not feel the difference between the bereavement that I see in your eyes, and that which we have seen among many of our neighbors. While we sanctify life, our enemies chose to sanctify death.”

His comments were seen as an answer of sorts to Army Radio broadcaster Razi Barkai who earlier this month compared the suffering of Israeli parents of fallen soldiers to that of Palestinian parents of terrorists killed during attacks on Israel.

Alsheich’s comments came during a swearing-in ceremony in Nazareth for new Northern District Head Assistant Chief Alon Asor.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan also spoke at the ceremony, and repeated the sentiments expressed by Alsheich.

“We will increase our deployment in the Arab street, through increased manpower in Arab towns, enlistment of Arab police, and uncompromising enforcement of the law, for the sake of the community and not against it or in spite of it.”

He also mentioned the “October 2000 Events”, when 13 Israeli Arabs were killed in rioting and clashes with police at the start of the Second Intifada.

He said that he believes relations between police and Arabs have come a long way since then, but that “the path is still long – we want to strengthen the ties with the Arab leadership and population, and we want many more Muslim police in our ranks.”

He also said police are looking to reduce the number of violent crimes and traffic accidents in the Arab sector and increase the level of cooperation with police and reporting of crimes.

Earlier this month, police confirmed that they intend to appoint Deputy Chief Jamal Hachrush, the current deputy head of the Coastal District, as the first Muslim Assistant Chief, the highest rank in the police force. Hachrush will be given the rank when he is appointed to head a special police branch meant to focus specifically on problems facing the Arab sector.

The new police branch is meant to focus on issues facing the Arab sector, with emphasis on providing police services where they are currently lacking. The plan includes the construction of what police hope will be more than 10 new police stations in Arab communities across Israel, as well as the recruitment of more than 1,300 police from the sector over the coming 5 years.

According to Israel Police figures from 2015 presented by Alsheich, although Arabs make up only about 21 percent of the population of Israel, 59% of murders and 55% of attempted murders take place in the sector.

In addition, 58% of arsons, 47% of robberies and 32% of property crimes reported to police are in the sector, according to the figures.‎