Under the Nose of the Police: Protection Racket on Be'er Sheva's Main Street

Two young men were arrested on suspicion of collecting protection money from a kiosk on KKL pedestrian mall in Be'er Sheva, near the police station. The owner hit one of them after a brawl, and the two fled but were caught following security camera footage.

Two young men, Abu Ja'far and Abu Assa, were arrested on suspicion of collecting protection money from a kiosk on KKL pedestrian mall in Be'er Sheva, a main street near the police station. According to the indictment, they demanded monthly payment from the employee and threatened to burn the store if not paid. The owner, unaware of the situation, intervened and struck Abu Assa after a brawl. Subsequently, a violent brawl involving others broke out, during which a knife was drawn. The collectors fled but were caught after being recorded on security cameras. At the detention hearing, the defense attorney argued it was a civil dispute, but the police emphasized the severity of the protection racket offense.