What happened
In the city of Sakhnin, business owners are being extorted by organized crime groups, with demands for protection money. One business owner, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that he was forced to close his business after being extorted and receiving threats. He stated that "if you pay once, they won't leave you alone for the rest of your life."
Another business owner, Owad Zabidat, a pharmacist, also experienced extortion attempts. He received phone calls demanding 150,000 shekels, which later increased to 200,000 shekels. Despite the threats, Zabidat refused to pay and instead went on strike, closing his pharmacy. His actions sparked a wave of solidarity among other business owners in Sakhnin and across the Arab community in Israel.
The city of Sakhnin has become a symbol of the government's and police's failure to combat organized crime in the Arab community. The city, once a thriving commercial center, is now plagued by violence, with frequent shootings and arson attacks. Business owners are living in fear, and many have been forced to close their businesses due to extortion and violence.
The government has recently announced a pilot program to provide compensation to business owners who have been affected by extortion. However, the program has been met with skepticism, with many business owners questioning its effectiveness and the conditions attached to receiving compensation.