Israel police arrest 50 in raids after undercover racket investigation

Israeli police arrested 50 people in nationwide raids targeting alleged protection rackets, following a 10-month undercover investigation. Police say the suspects pressured construction contractors to hire their security services, raising concerns that intimidation was being used to create demand for protection.

About 500 police and Border Police officers took part in the operation, led by the Coastal District and Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit. Investigators say the suspects collected tens of thousands of shekels per construction site without providing protection, and may themselves have threatened contractors. Those arrested included a northern local council head and people suspected of links to four crime organisations; they were due to face detention hearings in Haifa.