In a large-scale operation, Israeli police arrested several members of the Hariri clan, an extended Arab family suspected of systematically extorting protection money and of using explosives in the process.
According to officials, around a dozen members of the clan were arrested in an early morning raid, including a senior figure described as an “underworld mediator.”
Investigators charge that the suspects placed heavy pressure on residents in Samaria. They are said to have forced “payments amounting to millions of shekels,” often using threats against the victims and their families.
Particularly serious is the allegation that explosive devices were also used to spread fear and increase pressure.
Extortion through violence
Police described the group’s methods as systematic and brutal. The suspects allegedly threatened, intimidated, and in some cases used violence to force their victims to pay.
The criminal clan was said to have used “threats, violence, gunfire, and the throwing of explosive devices.”
During the raids, security forces searched several locations, including cities such as Umm al-Fahm, Taybeh, and Nablus. Weapons, drugs, cash, and vehicles were seized.
The operation was part of a months-long undercover investigation. Members of the clan had previously already come under the authorities’ scrutiny for similar offenses.
Links to terror and a clear police warning
Especially alarming are indications of possible links between organized crime and terrorist groups. Police explicitly warned that such groups may be attempting to establish themselves in Judea and Samaria.
The commander of the relevant district, Moshe Pinchi, stated: “We will not allow criminal organizations to cooperate with terror groups … Any such attempt will be met with an uncompromising response.”
Other investigators also emphasized that this was a significant blow against one of the country’s largest criminal organizations.
The Arab Hariri clan has long been linked to a wide range of serious crimes, including extortion, violent offenses, and organized protection-racket systems.
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