The visit follows weeks of sharp clashes between the two and criticism Ben-Gvir faced during his previous trip to the town.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is expected to visit the Bedouin town of Lakiya in southern Israel on Tuesday night as part of Israel Police's new directive to combat crime in the Negev, despite the cancellation of a planned meeting between him and Council Head Sharif al Asad.

The unauthorized visit follows weeks of sharp clashes between the two and criticism Ben-Gvir faced during his previous trip to the town.

“We don’t need a meeting in order to come to the locality,” sources close to Ben-Gvir said, explaining that the MK is set to arrive with senior police commanders to review the ongoing implementation of the operation.

Their last meeting ended with Asad accusing Ben-Gvir of coming “to inflame tensions." At the same time, Ben-Gvir claimed that he was allowed to visit “any locality where there are shootings and criminal activity.”

The two later agreed to meet again, but that meeting was also canceled, leading Ben-Gvir to now visit the town without coordinating with the council.

Ben-Gvir, Levi visit Lakiya for 'for pictures, not to solve problems'

Last week, Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner Daniel Levi visited Lakiya to oversee the installation of concrete barriers and checkpoints in the town as part of the Southern District’s new directive.

During the visit, MK Walid al-Hawashla (Ra’am) confronted Ben-Gvir, calling him “a racist" who only "came to provoke.”

“Governance is returning," Ben-Gvir sharply responded, "And we are the landlords.”

The tour included Southern District Commander Haim Boublil, Deputy Commissioner Avshalom Peled, and additional senior police officers.

As part of the operation, Israel Police has increased its patrols, restricted the movement of suspected criminals, and searched for weapons stolen from the IDF.

“We tried to petition against the decision as if we were second-class citizens," Asad criticized the placement of the barriers. "We are equal citizens."

"Ben-Gvir arrived for pictures, not to solve problems," Asad went on, explaining that he "expected the minister to come in the middle of the day, not only at night.”

Ending the tour, Ben-Gvir said that he wouldn't “be deterred," and that he is "doing what hasn’t been done for 30 years."

"We came to remind everyone who the landlord is in the State of Israel.”