The IDF has ordered soldiers operating in the northern Negev not to travel on roads in close proximity to Bedouin towns surrounding a military facility outside of Beer Sheva.

Following last week’s ramming murder of police officer Erez Levy by a Bedouin teacher affiliated with the southern branch of the Islamic Movement, army officials have placed restrictions on the movement of soldiers outside of the Nevatim Airbase in the Negev.

The base, which is near a number of Bedouin communities, has barred soldiers from using the northern gate, and now permits exit and entry into the facility only from the southern gate, Channel 1 reported on Monday.

In addition, IDF officials have banned soldiers from travelling on the road connecting Shoket Junction to Tel Arad.

According to the Channel 1 report, the restrictions were put in place following warnings by the Israeli Police Department that members of the Bedouin community may seek to “avenge” the death of the terrorist responsible for Levy’s murder last week.

Some in the Bedouin community, along with several Arab MKs and leftist organizations, have denied that the attack was in fact an act of terror, suggesting instead that it was a simple vehicular accident.

"He didn't mean to ram the officer, it was an accident,” one Arab woman from southern Israel told Arutz Sheva. “He was trying to leave the village and lost control of his car. His home was about to be demolished, he wanted to leave the village."

Videos show the car going straight to the policemen.

Deputy Commander of the Police Southern District Peretz Amar countered that the ramming was "a deliberate attack."

"This is a fact," Amar said. "There is no other explanation, and anyone who tries to offer an alternative explanation wasn't here at the time and doesn't understand... There was no possible means to claim in this situation he didn't see them. He hit them. He killed Levi."