Indictment: Collected 126,000 Shekels in Protection Money for 'Security' That Wasn't Provided

The State Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against three residents of the Negev for collecting protection money from the Al Kasum Regional Council under the guise of security services that were not performed. The defendants continued to receive monthly pay for shifts they did not attend, exploiting the council's fear of damage to its property.

The State Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment in the Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court against Hani Alatrash (29), Safian Atash (23), and Salem Alqashkar (54) from the Negev, for collecting protection money from the Al Kasum Regional Council. According to the indictment, between 2022 and 2025, the defendants were employed as guards through a security company, but in early 2025, the council's security officer discovered that they were systematically failing to show up for their shifts, even though they continued to receive pay. The security officer felt he could not terminate their employment due to repeated incidents of damage to council property, and even noted the words 'protection' and 'extortion by threats' on the approval documents. The total amount of payments exceeds 126,000 shekels. The indictment charges the three defendants with offenses of collecting protection money. The case was investigated by the Negev District Police's Central Unit.