Dozens arrested in nationwide crackdown as three face charges over home shooting
Police seized 52 suspects in a multi-month operation targeting protection rackets, while three men from Nazareth were indicted for firing 48 bullets at a businessman's house.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
Israel Police arrested 52 suspects across the country on Tuesday as part of a coordinated crackdown on alleged extortion networks. The arrests followed the filing of charges against three men from Nazareth who were accused of shooting at a businessman's home after demanding payment for protection.
The three suspects, aged 17, 18, and 23, were charged at the Haifa District Court on Monday. They face counts for shooting offenses, extortion by threats, transportation of a weapon, and reckless driving, among other charges. Prosecutors also requested that the men be held in custody until the end of the legal proceedings.
The case against the trio began in early October when police received a report from a resident of Kafr Manda in the Lower Galilee region. The victim stated that a stranger demanded 400,000 shekels, approximately $126,955, in protection money, threatening physical harm if he refused to pay. Shortly after this initial demand, gunfire was directed at the man's home and a gas station he owns.
Following the shooting, the victim received a phone call raising the demand to 1 million shekels, or about $317,482. The caller threatened to shoot the man in the legs and blow up the gas station if the new amount was not paid. On October 8, officers from Northern Police and Border Police were waiting near the victim's home when shots were fired from a vehicle at the property.
Police engaged the perpetrators and fired at their vehicle, which escaped the scene. The car was later found in an open area, where officers recovered an M-16 rifle and other evidence. Hours later, the suspects were apprehended while heading toward Nazareth. They had sustained injuries from police fire during the initial exchange. A fourth man was also arrested on suspicion of participating in the shooting, while a third suspect crashed into a police patrol vehicle while attempting to drive away.
The indictment states that the suspects fired 48 bullets at the victim's home while he was inside with his partner and their three children. Although some bullets penetrated the structure, no one was injured. Police said the gang was arrested last month on suspicion of running a protection racket for a major crime organization. During the arrest, there was an exchange of fire with police, and two of the suspects were injured.
The nationwide sweep, named Operation Guardians of the Shadow, involved approximately 500 regular and Border Police officers. They raided dozens of locations to dismantle networks suspected of forcing victims to pay for nonexistent security services. The operation followed a 10-month undercover investigation conducted in cooperation with the Lahav 433 national crime unit and the State Prosecution Office.
Police stated that the suspects in the broader operation demanded tens of thousands of shekels per site from contractors. The criminals compelled these businesses to hire their guard services without providing actual protection, creating a system where the entities creating the threat also offered the solution. All 52 suspects arrested in the sweep were brought for remand hearings at Haifa Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy praised the cooperation between forces in different districts. He noted that citizens forced to pay out of fear lose the freedom to run their businesses. Levy said the role of the police is to protect these individuals through determination against criminals and sensitivity to the victims.
